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Hector Baillie

Author Profile

Dr. Hector Baillie is a community general internist working in British Columbia. He writes about interesting cases and concepts that might stimulate discussion and change.

ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR

  • 9/25/2021

    Alternative medicine

    I tell my patient, “I can’t vouch for the efficacy or safety of your supplement, but if it doesn’t harm you. . . the worst it can do is lighten your wallet.” There is a pause at the end of the line.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 9/9/2021

    Unusual cases

    Someone once told me, “If you don’t put a rare disease on your differential diagnosis, you will never see one,” and he was right.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 8/24/2021

    Storytelling in medicine

    We are all listeners, information gatherers, processors, and do-ers. We establish a connection, extract meaningful data, and formulate a problem set. With the tools we have, we propose and enact a remedial action. And we move on.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 8/11/2021

    Physician immunizer

    It all started when I was complaining about Canada’s slow vaccine roll-out. “Ten million doses—maybe by Christmas.” But then I felt I should stop complaining, and DO something useful.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 7/28/2021

    The distribution of care

    Look at Canada's primary care landscape, there are too many doctors set to retire and not enough coming out of universities to replace them. But there are a number of solutions to consider.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 7/12/2021

    Pay it forward

    I was in the drive-thru lineup to pay for my McDonald’s burger and shake. “No charge,” the girl said, “the car in front paid for it.” I was confused. I asked my wife; she said it’s called pay-it-forward. I decided to respond in kind.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 6/21/2021

    Cheers!

    I thought I should share some thoughts about alcohol, that colourless, odourless liquid that, when flavoured with various ketones and esters—becomes part of the national diet.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 6/15/2021

    Home visits

    I remember when I was very young, our family GP, Dr. Bannister, would come to the house with his black bag. My mother would usher him into our bedroom, and he would sit down on the bed to examine my brother and me. Years later, I learned the true value of the home visit.
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 6/5/2021

    Joy

    Dr. Hector Baillie says at various times, I have heard of something quite wonderful—"Joy in Medicine." More generally speaking, "Joy in Work."
    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera
  • 5/25/2021

    The Greg Cuthbertson story

    Hector Baillie
    a man wearing a suit and tie smiling at the camera