Total eclipse of the sun; historic transplant recovery; CARE in medicine – Morning Medical Update

Look to the skies – carefully!

April 8, 2024, will bring a total solar eclipse visible over 15 states and within driving range of 200 million Americans. What are the best ways to view the celestial ballet? Here are pointers from Ophthalmology Times and Drug Topics (two sister publications of Medical Economics), with some facts and figures from NASA.

Recovering nicely

Massachusetts General Hospital physicians, a patient and a pig made made medical history last month when the first genetically edited porcine kidney was transplanted into a human. That patient, Richard “Rick” Slayman, 62, of Weymouth, Massachusetts, was discharged this week and will recuperate at home with his family. Social media site X, formerly Twitter, and CBS News have details.

The science and art of medicine

Artificial intelligence is growing as a tool used in medicine. As that happens, medicine is in an era when doctors must use CARE along with computers. JAMA has this viewpoint from two physicians discussing the importance of compassion, assistance, respect and empathy.