Medicine and Science from The BMJ

It’s the BMJ’s annual climate issue - and in this episode, we’ll be hearing about more ways in which climate mitigation is good for health.   Firstly, climate change is fuelling conflict, and exacerbating the impact it has on fragile healthcare systems. Andy Haines, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Barbora Sedova, from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, discuss how climate and conflict intersect, and what they think needs to be done to combat it.   “Car spreading”, the recent tendency for cars to become bigger and heavier is not only harming the climate, but it’s also harming pedestrians.  Anthony Laverty, associate professor of public health at Imperial College London, and trauma surgeon Cleo Kenington explain why SUVs are more lethal in accidents, and why France is bucking the trend in sales.   Finally, Jocalyn Clark, the BMJ’s international editor joins us to talk about women’s health innovation and why tech bros aren’t the people to be leading it.   Reading list:   The climate issue: Brazil and the climate crisis   Tackling the complex links between climate change, conflict, and health   Reducing the harms from ever larger cars   Transforming women’s health through innovation

Far right rallies have been held across the UK, culminating in a large parade in London where Elon Musk spoke. At the same time, politicians from across the political spectrum are following the talking points of far right parties - and shifting their policies rightward, even the Labour home secretary has said she wishes to double the period migrants have to be in the UK before they can become citizens. That has made a group of medics decide it’s time for doctors and other healthcare professionals to use their voice and speak up - against the demonisation of migrants into the UK, and for their fellow NHS staff. They are demanding that those in positions of power do so too.   Some of those medics join us on the podcast today; Alistair Stewart, consultant psychiatrist in Manchester  Omnya Ahmed, resident doctor in London  Jordan Rivera, occupational therapist in London   Also this week, doctor, researcher, comedian and Matt Hutchinson is adding author to his list, and has released the book “Are You Really the Doctor? My Life as a Black Doctor in the NHS” - he joins Shivali Fulchand to talk about balancing all of this bits of his career - and how standup comedy has helped him maintain his career in the NHS.   Reading list Everybody’s business: call to all NHS staff to oppose the influence of racism and the far right

This week on the podcast The BMJ investigates Q-COLLAR, an American device that distributors claim can reduce brain injury from contact sports. Investigators James Smoliga and Mu Yang take us through the evidence, and former NFL punter turned US bobsled team member Johnny Townsend explains what this means for sportspeople. Bin Wang from Zhejiang University School of Medicine explains what the new network metaanalysis finds is the best exercise options for knee osteoarthritis And, what our patient panel really think about “patient choice”.   links How an FDA cleared “brain protection” device built on shaky science made it to the NFL Comparative efficacy and safety of exercise modalities in knee osteoarthritis The BMJ's patient and public partnership

In this episode of the podcast; In July this year, the Government published their 10 year health plan for England - A new analysis just published on BMJ.com takes an in depth look at the chances of that plan succeeding, and where the government needs to focus time and resources. Bob Klaber, paediatrician and director of strategy, research and innovation at Imperial College Healthcare, and Helen Salisbury, GP and columnist for the BMJ join us to discuss. Journalist Chris Stoker-Walker's grandfather suffered from delirium at the end of his life, but the journey to that diagnosis was difficult - Chris joins us to talk about the impact that had on his family, and Elizabeth Sampson, professor of liaison psychiatry from Queen Mary University of London, explains why it's under-researched. Finally, we've been reporting from Gaza for 2 years, and it's been very difficult to get accurate information out of the region. However, new research published on bmj.com has surveyed medics there, to document the patterns of wounding in the civilian population - to improve the medical response to the conflict. Omar El-Taji and Ameer Ali, resident doctors in the NHS join us to explain what they found.   Reading list: Delivering on the 10 year health plan for England Why can’t we do anything about delirium? Patterns of war related trauma in Gaza during armed conflict  

In today’s episode: Assisted Dying moves closer to becoming UK law. The proposed legislation to allow people to end their own lives has moved through a second debate in the House of Lords. What do MPs and doctors think of the Bill as it stands? And, new ways to pull research findings from observation alone makes us question whether correlation really doesn’t equal causation. We find out - what is Target Trial Emulation? The BMJ’s Elisabeth Mahase speaks to Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, sponsor of the Assisted Dying Bill. Why did she propose the legislation? What has been her impression of its movement through Parliament and the opposition it has faced? We also hear from Jamilla Hussain and Gareth Owen, doctors who attended a BMJ parliamentary roundtable on the topic. Finally, the BMJ’s Duncan Jarvies talks to our research editors about new ways to develop evidence from observational studies. What are the limits to this new technique of causal inference? Reading list MP behind assisted dying bill warns that terminally ill people and their families are being failed, ahead of Lords debate Assisted dying bill: Lords debate concerns over lack of safeguards Transparent reporting of observational studies emulating a target trial: the TARGET Statement