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Dear Annie: The bare minimum brunch guest

Dear Annie: My husband and I host Easter brunch every year for both sides of the family — about 16 people total. I cook a big frittata, a glazed ham, homemade rolls and a salad or two. My problem is my sister-in-law, “Brenda.” For the past four years, she has signed up to bring dessert. And every year, she arrives with the exact same thing: a single grocery-store container of brownies. Last year, she set it next to the spread without even taking the brownies out of their plastic container. Meanwhile, I’m prepping for days in advance trying to get the food cooked and nicely ...

AI scribes help doctor to better focus and interact with patients

DEAR DR. ROACH: In your recent column, a reader complained about a doctor using AI to write after-visit summaries. I think my doctor has begun using AI for this purpose, but I like it. The reason why I think she is using AI is because she has begun looking at me while we discuss my health, rather than looking at her computer while she types the report. This feels much more personal, and the after-visit summary seems to be just as accurate. — G.U. ANSWER: I appreciate your writing. This is one good outcome from the use of AI scribes. It does often feel like we physicians are too busy ...

The cascade

I’ve been thinking about the cascade a lot. It could be because of the weather, the politics, the umpteenth “living through history” Millennial Moment, or any of a variety of other whims or nuances — but regardless of the reason, it’s been on my brain. What is the cascade? The cascade is a concept which has existed long before the phrase — a sprawling, ominous cloud that relates most closely to the collapse of everything. However, that concept was succinctly summarized — and perhaps bolstered against — by James S. A. Corey, a pen name used by a pair of ...

Moral metrics: Are corporate algorithms becoming our new moral authorities?

You check your credit score before applying for an apartment. Your fitness watch tells you whether you slept well enough. A workplace dashboard measures your productivity. Parents can buy devices that track their baby’s breathing and heart rate while they sleep. Increasingly, numbers tell us how we are doing. These systems promise something appealing: clear feedback about whether we are behaving well. They appear objective, neutral and data-driven. But they also signal a deeper cultural shift, as algorithms define what counts as virtuous behavior. In other words, we are living in ...

Dear Annie: Biting my tongue over husband’s bad habit

Dear Annie: My otherwise extremely well-mannered husband, “Ted,” has developed an unspeakably disgusting habit, and I need help addressing it. The backstory: About a year ago, there was an accident involving Ted, his brother and a couple of our nephews, which resulted in Ted losing five visible teeth. Our dentist removed the broken teeth and installed partial dentures. Ted has a very low pain tolerance and has had a difficult time adjusting to them. As a longtime denture wearer, I’ve told him that it takes time and that he needs to ask the dentist to adjust the partials if ...

Efforts to increase sodium level in woman lead to frustration

DEAR DR. ROACH: I’m a 71-year-old female. I weigh about 96 pounds, and I’m 4 feet, 9 inches tall. My blood pressure has always been good. When I was 25 years old, I donated a kidney. I was told by doctors and nurses to drink lots of fluid to take care of my one remaining kidney. After watching what happened to my brother and the many patients in dialysis, I made sure to drink at least 16 cups of fluid a day, including coffee, tea and water. As far back as I can remember, my sodium levels have been between 126-129 mEq/mL. I have no symptoms, and my kidney function is good. I live ...