Childhood is full of self-limited illnesses. Kids get sick and kids get better. The majority of childhood illnesses will get better on their own. Because of this, observation and “watchful waiting” is often the most useful diagnostic test at the pediatrician’s disposal.
Parents are often confused about the need for testing. Their experiences with adult medicine is typically full of lab tests and imaging studies. Unfortunately some parents equate the quantity of testing with the quality of care. Choosing observation is often viewed as not caring or not taking the complaint seriously. So there is an intrinsic struggle between what the pediatrician feels is needed, the parent’s expectations, and the risk if something is “missed.”
The skilled pediatrician can navigate this rocky road and have happy parents and good outcomes. This is the art of medicine.
(ChattahBox)—President Obama used his weekend address to slam Republicans for filibustering a much-needed bill to aid small businesses with tax breaks and lending assistance, so the backbone of our economy can start hiring again. The entire Republican caucus in the Senate filibustered the small business bill, blocking the measure from an up-or-down vote. “That isn’t right,” said Obama. And he called on Senate Republicans to stop holding “small businesses hostage to politics.”
Obama made his remarks at the center of our nation’s auto industry in Detroit, during a visit to hail the success of the President’s plan to save the industry from failure during the near collapse of our economy. Obama pointed out: “There were leaders of the “just say no” crowd in Washington who argued that standing by the auto industry would guarantee failure.” Obama was there to announce they were wrong, dead wrong. The auto bailout worked, so now what do the critics have to say?
President Obama began his address, praising the auto industry for coming back from the brink of disaster:
“Today, the men and women in this plant are proving these cynics wrong. Since GM and Chrysler emerged from bankruptcy, our auto industry has added 55,000 jobs – the strongest period of job growth in more than ten years. For the first time since 2004, all three American automakers are operating at a profit. Sales have begun to rebound. And plants like this that wouldn’t have existed if all of us didn’t act are now operating maximum capacity.”
Obama next turned his attention back to the “just say no” crowd in the Senate, who filibustered the small business jobs bill this past week, in an attempt to deny Democrats another legislative success before the mid-term elections, and the jobless be damned:
“As we work to rebuild our economy, I can’t imagine anything more common-sense than giving additional tax breaks and badly-needed lending assistance to America’s small business owners so they can grow and hire. That’s what we’re trying to do with the Small Business Jobs Act – a bill that has been praised as being good for small businesses by groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Business. It’s a bill that includes provision after provision authored by both Democrats and Republicans. But yesterday, the Republican leaders in the Senate once again used parliamentary procedures to block it. Understand, a majority of Senators support the plan. It’s just that the Republican leaders in the Senate won’t even allow it to come up for a vote.”
“That isn’t right. And I’m calling on the Republican leaders in the Senate to stop holding America’s small businesses hostage to politics, and allow an up-or-down vote on this small business jobs bill. At a time when America is just starting to move forward again, we can’t afford the do-nothing policies and partisan maneuvering that will only take us backward. I won’t stand here and pretend everything’s wonderful. I know that times are tough. But what I also know is that we’ve made it through tough times before. And we’ll make it through again. The men and women hard at work in this plant make me absolutely confident of that.”
And the President derided republicans for not having faith in the American people:
“So to all the naysayers out there, I say this: Don’t ever bet against the American people. Because we don’t take the easy way out.”
Associated Press, by Ann Sanner Posted By: Emerson- Sat, 31 Jul 2010 17:51:57 GMT President Barack Obama, his wife Michelle and daughter Sasha made a Friday night visit to the International Spy Museum in downtown Washington. Obama, wearing jeans, a casual shirt and sandals, found people lining the street outside the museum snapping his picture and cheering and waving as he walked in after a short motorcade ride from the White House. (Snip) The Obamas shared a tender moment on their way back home. The president kissed the first lady on each side of her neck as they stood under a canopy by the White House driveway;
