British Columbia Medical Journal

Cataracts are the progressive opacification of the transparent native crystalline lens. This eventually results in a decline in visual function for the patient and an obstructed view of the fundus during an ophthalmic exam.

Climate change and related environmental determinants are increasingly recognized as major drivers of physical and mental health.[1,2] Exposure to extreme weather, wildfire and smoke, flooding, drought, environmental pollution, and biodiversity loss have all been associated with adverse outcomes.

All through medical school, we were warned about burnout. There were lectures on resilience; mindfulness workshops; and the occasional wellness session reminding us to take breaks, breathe deeply, and remember our purpose. During residency, those messages felt oddly detached from reality. On long call shifts, my colleagues and I survived on caffeine and whatever snacks we could fit into our pockets. We were told to take better care of ourselves, to be more mindful, to breathe through it.

Dr Dunne: Congratulations on publishing your article in JAMA Network Open in November 2025, and thank you for telling us about your research. What were the main findings from your study? Dr Nethery: In our team’s research, we found that two-thirds of BC pharmacies can provide the mifepristone-misoprostol medication abortion regimen, also known as the abortion pill, within 3 days.

On any given day in British Columbia, a physician may travel for hours by road, air, or water to provide care in an Indigenous community. This work is deeply relational; it is shaped by trust, continuity, and cultural understanding, and it often extends beyond traditional clinical settings. While meaningful, it is also complex and can be isolating, especially when carried out in health care systems that are still evolving to support culturally safe care.

In June and July 2026, the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations; the Province of British Columbia; and the City of Vancouver will host seven FIFA World Cup 2026 (FWC26) matches at BC Place in Vancouver, with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) serving as the host health jurisdiction.[1] With an estimated 350 000 spectators expected and international visitors from many regions over a concentrated period, the matches will take place alongside a large fan festival at the Pacific National...

“We all die at the end of living.” Alice said this to me in clinic over a decade ago, and it has never left me. Frail people do not fare well in our acute care system.[1] Why, then, are so many in acute care? While we speak of cultural humility, our medical culture often asks a vulnerable person in their last chapters of life to accomplish the impossible—in so doing, denying them their dignity and mortality.

As the father of two young men, I am acutely aware of the challenges they face today, particularly when it comes to health and well-being. I am fortunate that both of my sons manage their health responsibly and approach life with emotional balance, despite the pressures young men face in the current social and political environment. As physicians, we are trained to look for patterns that shape health.

Sharing an opinion is harder than it may seem. I tend to shy away from sharing my opinion unless I have data to back it up. After all, scientific data is the cornerstone of truth and integrity in medicine. But data, among academics, can also be a defence mechanism. For example, it’s usually less threatening when someone counters an argument with data than when someone questions your opinion. Sharing an opinion exposes what we value, and it reveals our vulnerabilities.