Medicine & Health

Dr. Lynn Ponton is a psychiatrist who specializes in treating troubled teenagers and their parents. Her new book is “The Sex Lives of Teenagers: Revealing The Secret World of Adolescent Boys and Girls” (Dutton). In the book, Ponton uses case studies to take a look at the role of sexuality in adolescent development, and the conflicting messages teenagers receive about sexuality.

Neurosurgeon Frank Vertosick (ver-TAH-sick) writes about the history and management of chronic pain in the new book “Why We Hurt: The Natural History of Pain.” (Harcourt Inc.) (THIS INTERVIEW CONTINUES INTO THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW)

We talk about the current state of prescription drugs with Doctor Michael Winniford and Doctor Peter Ubel (‘U’-bil). Dr. Winniford is a cardiologist, professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, and director of the University’s Heart Care Center. Dr. Ubel is assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School, and is also on the faculty of the University’s Center for Bioethics. The two doctors will talk about the high cost of prescription drugs, and the problems associated with that cost.

We talk more about HIV and AIDS in South Africa with journalist Phillip Van Niekerk (fawn-KNEE-kirk). Recently, the president of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki (TAH-boh mm-BEK-eh) has become very involved in the AIDs policy in his country. Mr. Mbeki is focusing on a medical theory that states that the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, does not cause AIDS. Many leading scientists have criticized MR. Mbeki for wasting his time on what they see as a discredited theory about AIDS. The International AIDS conference is scheduled to be held in South Africa this summer.

Professor of Architecture and Gerontolgy Victor Regnier (Ruh-NEAR) teaches at the University of Southern California. In 1997 he published a book (Assisted Living Housing for the Elderly: Design Innovations from the United States and Europe” (Wiley) comparing the Northern European and U.S. approaches to caring for the elderly. The European model helps the elderly to stay in their homes, with the help of assisted living programs. This week he is presenting a paper on the subject at the AIA (American Institute of Architects) convention in Philadelphia.

Jerome Groopman, MD. His new book is "Second Opinions: Stories Of Intuition And Choice In A Changing World Of Medicine." (Viking) The Harvard Medical School doctor and researcher says patient and doctor should be working together, using intuition, cutting-edge science and personal values to make critical medical decisions. The book's case histories include Goodman’s infant son, who was misdiagnosed in a hospital emergency room and almost died.

Dr. Andrew Weill specializes in holistic medicine. He's the author of the bestseller "Spontaneous Healing." His new book is "Eating Well For Optimum Health: The Essential Guide to Food, Diet, and Nutrition" (Knopf). Weill is the founder of the Foundation for Integrative Medicine in Tucson, Arizona. His website is www.drweil.com

Medical journalist Stephen Klaidman is Senior Research Fellow at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics. His new book “Saving the Heart: The Battle to Conquer Coronary Disease” (Oxford) takes a look at the treatments developed -- like angiography and balloon angioplasty -- to help patients recover from the damages of heart disease. He also charts the way the field of cardiology has become a multi-billion dollar business, and the conflict that arises between medical ambition and financial incentive and the best treatment options for patients.

Dr. Scott Fishman, an expert in pain and pain relief, talks about his book, "The War on Pain: How breakthroughs in the new field of pain medicine are turning the tide against suffering"(Harper Collins). Fishman is the newly appointed chief of the division of pain medicine and associate professor of anesthesiology at the University of California, Davis.

Dr. Edward Hallowell talks about his book Connect (Pantheon), about the importance of connectedness and what he sees as the essential need for intimate attachments. Hallowell is a practicing psychiatrist and an instructor at the Harvard Medical School. His other books include Worry(1997), and Answers to Distraction(1995) about attention deficit disorder.