Among people 25 to 64 years old, unintentional poisoning caused more deaths than motor vehicle crashes.
In 2009, 28,754 (91 percent) of all unintentional poisoning deaths were caused by drugs. The class of drugs known as prescription painkillers, which includes such drugs as methadone, hydrocodone, and oxycodone, was most commonly involved, followed by cocaine and heroin.
Source: CDC
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Prodigal Son Listening
During my board exam studying and after the trip to Ghana I've had extra time to reflect. Through this time I've realized how dependent I am on God for happiness, meaning and fulfillment, and there is no way I will be able to find it apart from the Lord. No amount of worldly success or a relationship with a spouse can give meaning or happiness. No amount of good for God's kingdom, evangelism, teaching and service can bring fulfillment. My only calling is to be with my Father.
"Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
I should not worry about what path to take, such as what medical residency to do; I should spend time with Him and it will be revealed in God's timing. I do not want to pick paths that will give me glory. Not my way, but His way be done, for, "He will guide me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
I've had a lot of anxieties lately, second guessing what kind of doctor to become and if I picked the right 4th year rotations. All the people around me are daily questioning me, saying, "Are you sure about going to seminary for a year before residency?" and, "You should not go into Family Medicine, do Anesthesiology or Neonatology," sharing stories of dissatisfied family physicians in contrast to satisfied colleagues in other medical fields. The more I pray and reflect, I see that these voices are adversaries, similar to Job's three friends condemning him while trying to help.
"When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him." Job 2:11
"These three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him." Job 32:1-3
"After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, 'I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.' ... After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before." Job 42:7,10
This teaches me that I should not be upset at others condemning me especially if they are dear friends that desire to help (I should be thankful that I have friends/family that desire to reach out and help continuously). I should pray that God gives them the same understanding or changes my own understanding. The power is not in the lengthy conversations between Job and his friends, but in the final prayer to the Lord, which restores Job's livelihood. I feel the same way when I pray: the Lord gives immense wisdom as I hear His voice and he restores my livelihood double as before; "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."
I have finally been able set time for devotions, Bible memorization, prayer and listening in the mornings and prayer/listening throughout the day. It's amazing to see that many struggles I've had with purity or anxiety are not caused by me, but are temptations from a spiritual adversary, satan. These issues are much bigger than myself. I have no power apart from Christ and my heavenly Father. Emptiness can only be filled by God.
Lastly, as I listen, I've been amazed how God repeatedly says, "My son," to me. I did not realize the great significance of this until today morning when I broke down in tears of joy that God accepted me as His son. I started to feel like the Prodigal Son for having lived so long without regularly listening to God and having conversations with Him.
By the way, the Father's voice is not an audible voice, but a voice inside you that is not your own and infinitely wiser.
"Even though I walk through the valley of shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4
I should not worry about what path to take, such as what medical residency to do; I should spend time with Him and it will be revealed in God's timing. I do not want to pick paths that will give me glory. Not my way, but His way be done, for, "He will guide me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake."
I've had a lot of anxieties lately, second guessing what kind of doctor to become and if I picked the right 4th year rotations. All the people around me are daily questioning me, saying, "Are you sure about going to seminary for a year before residency?" and, "You should not go into Family Medicine, do Anesthesiology or Neonatology," sharing stories of dissatisfied family physicians in contrast to satisfied colleagues in other medical fields. The more I pray and reflect, I see that these voices are adversaries, similar to Job's three friends condemning him while trying to help.
"When Job’s three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him." Job 2:11
"These three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him." Job 32:1-3
"After the Lord had said these things to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite, 'I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.' ... After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before." Job 42:7,10
This teaches me that I should not be upset at others condemning me especially if they are dear friends that desire to help (I should be thankful that I have friends/family that desire to reach out and help continuously). I should pray that God gives them the same understanding or changes my own understanding. The power is not in the lengthy conversations between Job and his friends, but in the final prayer to the Lord, which restores Job's livelihood. I feel the same way when I pray: the Lord gives immense wisdom as I hear His voice and he restores my livelihood double as before; "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."
I have finally been able set time for devotions, Bible memorization, prayer and listening in the mornings and prayer/listening throughout the day. It's amazing to see that many struggles I've had with purity or anxiety are not caused by me, but are temptations from a spiritual adversary, satan. These issues are much bigger than myself. I have no power apart from Christ and my heavenly Father. Emptiness can only be filled by God.
Lastly, as I listen, I've been amazed how God repeatedly says, "My son," to me. I did not realize the great significance of this until today morning when I broke down in tears of joy that God accepted me as His son. I started to feel like the Prodigal Son for having lived so long without regularly listening to God and having conversations with Him.
By the way, the Father's voice is not an audible voice, but a voice inside you that is not your own and infinitely wiser.
Sunday, July 08, 2012
DNR CPR
"When a patient suffers a cardiopulmonary arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is initiated unless a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) order has been made. Although CPR can restore people to vigorous health, it can also disrupt a peaceful death. After CPR is attempted on a general hospital service, only 14% of patients survive to discharge, and even fewer in certain subgroups. DNR orders are appropriate if the patient or surrogate requests them or if CPR would be futile." Harrion's Internal Medicine, 17th Ed
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