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JANUARY 9, 2026

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RESOLUTION#1 T

JUNIOR’S STORY We have a cat. His name is Junior. Junior is actually a she, but for some reason we always refer to her as a him. We really didn’t choose to have Junior; he chose us. He started out as basically a neighborhood cat, showing up as a little kitten (hence his name, at least at our house) around 10 or 11 years ago on an erratic timetable: we might see him three days in a row and then not again for a week. He came and went on his own schedule, and whenever he did we fed him and petted him before he disappeared again. A neighbor said she had Junior fixed so there wouldn’t be junior Juniors running around, but Junior was an outdoor cat, and never had another vet visit until around 2020. He was practically unconscious that day, so we took him to the vet, and although the diagnosis was uncertain, whatever the treatment was worked and pretty soon Junior was as healthy as ever. Since then, Junior became more and more our cat. He was always on the front porch first thing every morning waiting for breakfast when we opened the door to the day. He might disappear all day or sleep on the porch all Please see JUNIOR page 3

his time of year many people are resolved to make themselves better human beings in the months ahead. Typical New Year’s resolutions include losing weight, exercising more, paying off bills or reducing debt, and never missing an issue of the Medical Examiner. Those aren’t bad goals; they are actually very good ones, especially if they can be reached. None of them are what we have in mind for Resolution #1, but as long as we’re here first, let’s pull over for a few moments and talk about those typical goals and how to achieve them. You probably already know these pointers, but reminders are always useful. First, choose goals that are realistic. “Compete in the Boston Marathon” is an insane goal if you currently aren’t even a runner. On the other hand, if you average 5-7 miles every other day and occasionally run 15 miles at a time, a trip to Boston is not an unreachable goal. Once you have realistic resolutions in mind, the other key is to make them measurable. If your goal is to lose weight, it’s best to be specific enough that you will

know if you’re succeeding or not. So a better goal might be “lose 3 lbs by the end of the month,” followed by a new goal for the next month. If it’s a money goal, make it similarly specific and measurable: “Put $50 from every paycheck into savings.” Standard New Year’s resolutions are worth pursuing. Nearly all resolutions eventually fail or are forgotten, but each day, week, or month they can be kept is a good thing. But let’s get back to our idea for a better way to change in the coming year. Yes, even better than losing weight, getting out of debt, and reading every issue of the Medical Examiner. Here’s our resolution: be nice. Before you dismiss this as ridiculously simplistic, consider the implications. Imagine how putting those two words into practice could benefit your marriage and family life: a better relationship with your spouse, your kids, your parents. Picture how being a nicer person could improve things with your neighbors and coworkers. But there is much more. Think about how often you personally Please see RESOLUTION #1 page 11

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THE FIRST 40 YEARS ARE ALWAYS THE HARDEST

THOUGHTS ABOUT

PARENTHOOD THOUGHTS 46

by Dr. Warren Umansky, PhD

Your 8th grader did not bring home a report card at the end of the first semester. He said the schools are not issuing report cards any more. He said grades are posted online through the parent portal. A few weeks later, you finally were able to get through to the school office, set up an account on the parent portal, and look at his grades. You weren’t pleased. Your child failed two of his academic classes for the semester and did not do very well on the other two. He showed no concern about his school performance during the semester and still talks about being an engineer. What should you do? A. It’s only the first semester. He always been a slow starter. He’ll kick it into gear and do well next semester. B. We’ll let his dad take care of this. Dad is not very involved in his life anyway since our divorce three years ago. It’s time for him to step up and get involved. C. Get more engaged with your child and monitor his activities at home and at school much better than you have been. D. It’s time to talk with a professional who can help you navigate the complicated challenges of raising an adolescent. If you answered: A. The “wait and see” approach is a dangerous strategy for children of any age, but it is particularly dangerous for an adolescent who is struggling. Your job is to find out the source of his challenges and address them. Too little supervision? Too much time on electronics? Hanging out with the wrong peer group? Too little sleep? Not preparing for tests? You not showing enough interest in how and what he does? If you don’t feel capable of doing it, check option D. B. Dad should be more involved. How do you make that happen now? The fact that dad is not involved may be part of the problem, but you can’t afford to wait until that changes. C. You live with your son and you have to be the one who talks with him, who monitors his performance in school, who knows who his friend group is, who makes sure he is preparing for tests, who makes sure he is getting enough sleep. Sit down at dinner every night and talk about how his day and your day went. It’s a good routine and, if electronics are gone during the school week, it will start being more and more productive. It works even better when you have several children sitting around the dinner table each night. D. There are many mental health professionals available who can help. Mental health counseling with a licensed counselor or psychologist often is covered by insurance. Local community mental health centers provide services with fees that are based on your ability to pay. Check with your pediatrician for trusted resources. Your child talks about wanting to be an engineer. That’s good! Having a vision for the future is a good predictor of success for children who appear to have the ability. (It is not valid for young couch potatoes who think they will be professional athletes, or most young Roblox gamers who aspire to be videogame designers!) Let engineering be the focus of your discussions with your child about needing to do well in school, staying out of trouble, and getting involved in productive school activities. + Dr. Umansky has a child behavioral health practice in Augusta.

FREGOLI DELUSION: “THEY’RE ALL THE SAME PERSON!” Editor’s note: Written by local mental healthcare professionals, this series explores how people may think and act when affected by common and not-so-common mental health conditions. Angela, a 36-year-old administrative assistant, began to feel watched. A coworker’s expression seemed familiar. A stranger in a grocery store aisle looked at her with the same knowing glance. Over time, Angela became convinced that multiple people were actually one individual repeatedly disguising themselves to follow and control her. As the belief intensified, Angela avoided public places and confronted others she believed were “in disguise.” When her distress escalated into a workplace incident, she was brought in for psychiatric evaluation. Angela was experiencing Fregoli delusion, a rare but severe disorder of misidentification. What Is Fregoli Delusion? Fregoli delusion is a delusional misidentification syndrome in which a person believes that different individuals are actually a single person changing their appearance or identity. The belief is fixed, false, and resistant to evidence, distinguishing it from ordinary paranoia. The condition is named after Italian actor Leopoldo Fregoli, known for rapid costume changes. Fregoli delusion most often appears in the context of: • Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders • Bipolar disorder with psychotic features • Major depressive disorder with psychosis • Neurological illness or brain injury Signs and Symptoms Common features include: • A firm belief that multiple people are one person in disguise • Paranoia centered on being followed, monitored, or targeted • Misinterpretation of faces or expressions as familiar or threatening • Heightened vigilance and fear • Social withdrawal or avoidance of public settings • Agitation or defensive behavior driven by perceived threat These beliefs may significantly impair the person’s judgment and interpersonal interactions. What Causes Fregoli Delusion? Fregoli delusion is believed to arise from dysfunction in brain systems responsible for facial recognition and emotional processing. Contributing factors may include: • Frontal and temporal lobe abnormalities • Underlying psychotic illness

JANUARY 9, 2026 • Neurological conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, or dementia • Substance use or medication effects in vulnerable individuals The result is a false sense of familiarity paired with mis-assigned emotional meaning. Common Misconceptions

8 “It’s just paranoia.”

Fregoli delusion involves a specific misidentification belief, not generalized suspicion.

8 “The person knows it isn’t true.” Affected individuals genuinely experience the belief as real and convincing.

8 “It has little clinical im-

pact.” Fear-driven behavior associated with this condition can carry significant safety and forensic implications. Treatment and Management Treatment targets the underlying psychiatric or neurological condition and symptom stabilization. Common approaches include: • Antipsychotic medication • Mood stabilizers or antidepressants, when indicated • Supportive or cognitive-based psychotherapy • Inpatient care, when safety or functional impairment is severe Early recognition improves outcomes and reduces risk. Prognosis Prognosis depends on the underlying diagnosis and timeliness of treatment. With appropriate care, many individuals experience partial or full resolution of delusional beliefs and improved functioning. Without treatment, symptoms may worsen, increasing the risk of social isolation, confrontations, or legal involvement. + About Us IPS provides inpatient and outpatient mental health services, with or without a referral, to help patients and their families progress through the care journey. To make an appointment, call 706-204-1366 or visit integratedpsych.care.

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JANUARY 9, 2026

JUNIOR… from page 1 day, but he always showed up again for supper like he was wearing a watch, and when we took the dog out for that last walk before bed, Junior always appeared from the shadows to come along. About a month ago, someone visiting us was petting Junior and noticed that his eyes didn’t look right. His pupils were completely dilated. Those vertical slivers that are a cat’s pupils in sunlight were full circles instead. We called the vet where our dog goes and made an appointment. The diagnosis was quite a shock: Junior is blind. Apparently high blood pressure is common in older cats, and Junior’s undiagnosed and untreated hypertension resulted in not one but two detached retinas. He’s not an outdoor cat any more. Despite his age and being a lifelong outdoor cat, the vet said everything else about Junior is remarkably healthy, even more so now that the old man (ok, old lady) is on meds and has his BP under control. His good health may be what cost him his sight. We saw him almost every day and although we’re medical amateurs, we judged him to be perfectly healthy. What about standard stuff like rabies shots or routine checkups, the kind of visits that would have identified his high blood pressure? We definitely played the he’sreally-more-of-a-neighborhood-cat and the money-is-tight-right-now cards more than we should have. His daily pill has already cut his blood pressure in half, and he has adjusted very well to living indoors. He has mapped out his new domain and navigates it like he can actually see where he’s going. Junior may be just a cat, but the moral of his story is profound. On its most basic

level it’s a clear message to every pet owner to be attentive and responsible. Someone without the diligence and dedication — or the funds — to take care of a creature dependent upon you should not be a pet owner, or needs to develop the needed diligence and dedication yesterday. By that measure, Junior might want a refund on us, and we would have to plead guilty. On an even deeper level, unchecked hypertension can do the same thing to human eyes that they did to Junior’s. How tragic it would be to lose our precious sense of vision unnecessarily. That happens to humans just like it did to Junior: not getting checked and therefore not even knowing the fuse has been lit. Or it could happen even more tragically: when a person knows they have high blood pressure and fails to do anything about it. If it’s high enough and goes on long enough, blindness could be the least of such a person’s worries. The list could include heart attack, stroke, coronary artery disease, cognitive impairment, kidney failure, sexual dysfunction, pulmonary edema and resulting breathing problems, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and still others. Vision is one of those priceless extras that we really don’t need. Yes, you read that sentence correctly: vision is not required for life. Somebody can be born blind and live to be 100. But being able to see adds immeasurably to the enjoyment of living. Of all the senses, people usually rank it as #1, the one they would miss the most if it was lost. And as Junior is here to remind us, it can be lost. All you have to do is, well, nothing. +

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WHAT’S THE BIG DEAL ABOUT GETTING MEASLES? Many baby boomers — maybe even most — had measles as kids. It was normal. Not getting the measles, now that was newsworthy. So why all the hand-wringing about current measles outbreaks in South Carolina and elsewhere, as though the apocalypse is upon us? The simplest, most humane answer is that nobody, especially children, should be sick when that sickness is easily avoidable. And measles is highly preventable: the MMR vaccine is 97% effective, and those in the 3% category who get it anyway get a milder version. Measles is extremely contagious: the Cleveland Clinic says if someone has measles, on average 90% of the unvaccinated people around them will catch the disease. Once infected, common symptoms include high fever (often 104° or higher), cough, runny nose, and a rash that covers the entire body. But that’s not all. Typical complications include ear infections and diarrhea. The CDC reports that about 20% of those who are unvaccinated and get measles end up being hospitalized. Pneumonia is the #1 cause of measles-related deaths among children, but adults over 20, pregnant women, and anyone with a weakened immune system — cancer patients, for instance — are at risk for severe, even life-threatening complications from measles. There are a few downright weird aspects to measles. One is a rare but fatal brain disease that surfaces from 7 to 10 years after having measles. Another is that measles can erase a person’s immune memory. Normally, our on-board defense system keeps an open file on infections so that any attempts to re-attack will be met with immediate resistance. Measles can cause immune system amnesia, making a person vulnerable to infections they were previously immune to. Anyone who thinks measles is “just a rash” needs to go back to school. It is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet and can cause severe consequences. Fortunately, it is avoidable with a safe and proven vaccine. +

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www.AugustaRx.com The Medical Examiner’s mission: to provide information on topics of health and wellness of interest to general readers, to offer information to assist readers in wisely choosing their healthcare providers, and to serve as a central source of salubrious news within every part of the Augusta medical community. Direct editorial and advertising inquiries to: Daniel R. Pearson, Publisher & Editor E-mail: Dan@AugustaRx.com AUGUSTA MEDiCAL EXAMINER P.O. Box 397, Augusta, GA 30903-0397

(706) 860-5455 www.AugustaRx.com • E-mail: Dan@AugustaRX.com www.Facebook.com/AugustaRX Opinions expressed by the writers herein are their own and/or their respective institutions. Neither the Augusta Medical Examiner, Pearson Graphic 365 Inc., nor its agents or employees take any responsibility for the accuracy of submitted information, which is presented for general informational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment, consult your doctor. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services advertised. © 2026 PEARSON GRAPHIC 365 INC.

4 #250 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

JANUARY 9, 2026

ADVENTURES IN

Middle Age BY J.B. COLLUM

Did you have a set of Funk & Wagnalls?

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ou are looking at the living embodiment of the term “unsung hero.” (Well, a formerly living embodiment of it, anyway.) This man was decades ahead of his time, and for his advanced insights into the transmission of disease, the medical establishment awarded him titles like “crank” and “crazy old man.” It was disappointing and hurtful, but he was ultimately vindicated. The good thing is that this wasn’t one of those cases where someone else swoops in, steals the limelight and takes all the credit for another person’s discovery. The bad thing is, although there really was neither swoopage nor stealing, but others got the limelight anyway. The man pictured above was born Juan Carlos Finlay in Cuba in 1833, and later legally changed his name to Carlos Juan Finlay. Okay... But let’s move on. Armed with a medical degree earned in Philadelphia in 1855, Finlay returned to Cuba where he was appointed to work with the U.S. National Health Board Yellow Fever Commission when it traveled to Cuba in 1879. The commission found that “the agent capable of transmitting the disease must be in the air.” Ah, the old miasma theory. Finlay’s response was, in so many words, “Not so fast.” On Aug. 14, 1881, he presented a paper to Havana’s Academy of Sciences identifying mosquitoes — hypothetically — as the agent of transmission for yellow fever. Finlay firmly believed that mosquitoes were the vector, but he threw in the word hypothetically in the title of his paper just to soften the impact for his listeners and allow them to think outside the box for a moment before categorically rejecting his idea. It didn’t work. The reaction that day and for nearly 20 years thereafter alternated between stony silence and universal ridicule. In his speech that August Sunday in Havana he noted, “nothing less than an absolutely incontrovertible demonstration” would convince his colleagues to accept a theory [the mosquito, that is] “so entirely at variance with the ideas which have until now prevailed.” And on that day he did not have the incontrovertible proof, He was still trying to provide it in 1900 when the U.S. Army Yellow Fever Board rode into Havana. At the head of the posse were two men largely credited with eradicating yellow fever and making the Panama Canal possible. But as stated previously, there was neither swooping nor stealing. “It was Finlay’s theory, and he deserves much for having suggested it.” — Walter Reed “[Finlay’s] reasoning for selecting the...mosquito as the bearer of yellow fever is the best piece of logical reasoning that can be found in medicine anywhere.” — William C. Gorgas Gorgas, incidentally, was profiled in this space by guest columnist Wayne Thigpen in our 12/20/19 issue. And he has a street named in his honor on the AU Summerville campus. He died in Havana in 1915, having lived long enough to see his pioneering findings vindicated and accepted. +

research paper to write in school, it meant a trip to the library. If your school library didn’t have what you needed, you probably headed to the public library instead. If you were fortunate enough to own a set of encyclopedias—especially if your family kept up with the annual updates—you might find what you needed at home. If you were like me, though, you were just happy to have a set of Funk & Wagnalls encyclopedias your mom bought one volume at a time at the grocery store. Didn’t have the full set yet? You’d better hope your topic fell somewhere between A and Q, or you were making a library trip. We also kept bound volumes of magazines that covered science, history, and major discoveries, complete with index volumes. They were invaluable during my childhood. Now consider this: anyone under thirty has grown up with essentially the entirety of human knowledge available on a home computer through the internet. Those under twenty have had that same knowledge available in a battery-powered device they can carry in their pocket. But carrying the analogy forward, does having constant access to information mean they actually possess more knowledge than previous generations? I would argue no. When access is ubiquitous, the need to store knowledge in our own minds diminishes. Why remember who starred in a movie in 1942 if you can instantly look it up on IMDb, Google, or ask an AI? Why remember the formula for the hypotenuse of a right triangle when a machine can do it for you? Ask a carpenter building a house or a deck whether that knowledge still matters. As life becomes easier and technology advances to the point where we no longer need to know how to do things ourselves, our dependence on it grows. This trend isn’t new—it’s been building for centuries, ever since we started writing things down for future generations. But modern technology goes further by allowing people to connect without being physically present. Increasingly, that connection is happening not between people, but between people and machines. Believe it or not, there are now AI girlfriend and boyfriend services. What comes next? Would it surprise you to learn that people are already turning to AI to answer metaphysical questions? If it does it shouldn’t, because they are. Many of us grew up believing in a divine being, a god. That belief is becoming less popular, and it’s worth asking what non-believers might see in a super-intelligent entity that makes their lives easier. As AI systems grow more capable, automating tedious

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Another year has gone by, and here I am feeling contemplative—and a little melancholy—about how quickly it flew by and about the people I lost along the way. I imagine most of my readers feel the same way at this time of year, but this article isn’t going to dwell on that specifically. Instead, it’s about how life has changed, about the fears for the future that stem from those changes, and what our role may be in mitigating them. Life is very different now than it was before. I know, that’s what all older people say as they age and witness change, usually believing that things are getting worse while younger people assume we’re just nostalgic old fogeys who need to get over it. But what I’m talking about here feels like a historic shift, and one that has serious, measurable downsides. It may take longer for much of the younger generation to agree, but I’ve spoken with many people in their late teens, twenties, and thirties who feel we’ve crossed a threshold—one that points toward a future that is both frightening and increasingly inevitable. We’re already seeing the results in the dramatically rising number of young people experiencing serious mental health crises. We don’t connect with others the way we used to. We connect with more people than ever before, but those connections are mostly superficial. They lack the depth of the friendships and interactions we once had. We’ve traded fewer, higher-quality relationships for many more “friendships,” but they are shallower and less fulfilling. Most of these interactions now take place across the flat, two-dimensional medium of social media. What’s the upside? There’s always someone—or something—to talk to, and we never have to be bored. But boredom once led us to deeper self-awareness and innovation, to figuring out how to satisfy the cravings of our minds and bodies. Go find some old videos of crowded public places—a mall, a park, a town square—and you’ll see people talking, playing sports, laughing, interacting, and smiling. Take a trip to the mall today and watch people for a while. Most are walking or sitting while staring at their devices, quietly setting themselves up for a future of thumb arthritis. How do I know this? Because I already have it. If this keeps up, I expect basal joint arthritis to reach epidemic levels, if it hasn’t already. I’m seriously considering investing in companies that make arthritis pain pills, ointments, and braces — or perhaps thumb transplants — since I’m already heavily invested in the experience. If you’re around my age and had a

Please see ADVENTURES page 6

that her receptive language—the words she comprehends—has grown. Simple instructions are followed more reliably. Familiar phrases seem to register faster. There’s a sense that the gap between what she hears and what she processes may be narrowing, even if just a little. Another subtle but fascinating development has been how she plays. Freyja has always enjoyed arranging objects, but lately the precision has increased. She lines up her toys on the floor with deliberate spacing, careful alignment, and consistent orientation. The rows are straighter. The distances more uniform. Often, everything is squared against a sharp edge, as though she’s working from an internal ruler the rest of us can’t see. We find ourselves watching quietly, wondering what this might mean. Is it simply a One of the quiet truths about raising soothing pattern, or is it a sign of growing a child like Freyja is that progress rarely announces itself. There are no trumpets, no spatial awareness? Is she experimenting clear “before and after” moments. Instead, with order, control, or structure in a world change tends to arrive the way dawn does— that often feels chaotic to her? We don’t almost unnoticed until you suddenly realize know—and we’ve learned to be comfortable with not knowing. But it feels like somethe light is different. Lately, the light has been different. Over thing is unfolding. The hardest part, and the most humbling, the past several weeks, Freyja has been more vocal. Not in words—at least not yet— is accepting that we may never get answers but in sounds that feel intentional. She was in the traditional sense. The day may never already singing along with songs in Disney come when Freyja explains what she was thinking or what changed inside her. Her movies, and not randomly or off-key, but story may never be narrated out loud. Inmatching notes with surprising accuracy, but she is getting better at it and being more stead, it’s told in notes sung at just the right pitch, in carefully spaced toys on the living consistent. Anyone who has spent time around her knows this isn’t mimicry in the room floor, in a single sound repeated again casual sense. It’s participation. She’s joining and again as if trying it on for size. Hope, in this world, doesn’t look like something that exists outside of herself, milestones on a chart. It looks like noticing. even if only through melody. There’s also the very tangible reminder And then there are the sounds. She has started repeating certain vocalizations with that time is moving forward whether we’re remarkable consistency and precision. They ready or not: Freyja is growing—fast. She’s aren’t words, exactly, but they aren’t noise gaining height at a rate that feels almost either. The sound she uses most right now comical until you realize what it implies. is something that resembles “how.” It comes The little girl who once fit easily into every space we created for her is rapidly outgrowout clearly, repeatedly, and often in moments that feel purposeful. It’s tempting— ing them. I’ve begun to suspect that the larger play area we’ve been planning may dangerously tempting—to read meaning into it. We try not to. Experience has taught need to happen sooner rather than later. us to appreciate what is without demanding Growth, after all, is not just neurological or emotional. Sometimes it’s measured in that it become something else. Still, it’s hard not to feel hopeful. Along- inches on a door frame. In many ways, these changes leave us side this new vocal experimentation is suspended between wonder and restraint. something equally intriguing: her underWe don’t want to project too far into the standing appears to be expanding. Freyja has always understood more than she could future because that road is littered with express, but recently her responses suggest Please see SPECIAL FORCES page 6

Special Forces

Parenting

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#24 IN A SERIES

Who is this?

Not everyone in healthcare can be Florence Nightingale, right? Despite the long-running series on page 4, there are clunkers in medicine, and we will examine some of them in this series. Unfortunately, there’s enough material to keep this side of the page going for a while.

ow would you describe the lady in this photograph? Does she look like she might be a quilter? A middle school lunch lady? A church secretary? If you had a hundred guesses, would any of them ever be serial killer? Probably not. And yet that is exactly what she is. In fact, she is one of the worst in Canadian history. Even more reprehensible, she is in this space in this publication because she committed her crimes while working in healthcare (Slogan: “We’re The Do No Harm People!” Growing up, Elizabeth Wettlaufer was teased and bullied and confined by her parents ultra-strict Baptist house rules. But when she became a grown-up and a registered nurse, suddenly she was in charge of things and had a degree of independence and power and control. Within three months of starting to work in nursing she was using her newfound power and control to prey on patients. Her weapon of choice was an insulin pen. By lowering blood sugar in her elderly patients, she could cause coma or death in a way that was difficult to detect. It took some practice; her first two victims, sisters who were 87 and 88 at the time, survived. When the assaults were later discovered and police became involved, Wettlaufer leaned on her strict religious upbringing for a motive in choosing the first sister: “[I]...had this sense inside me that she might be a person God wanted back with him. I honestly felt that God wanted to use me.” Those “failed” assaults eventually came to light because Wettlaufer worked to refine her evil craft. Her next attempt was carried out against an 84-year-old World War II veteran and father of six, and involved twice the insulin she used on the sisters. He died, followed by seven more, as well as six others who survived her attempts. Wettlaufer would later tell police that a “red surge” would boil up inside her before each assault. She claimed to derive no joy from the deaths. In fact, her guilt led to problems with alcohol and drug addiction — and multiple confessions. She told an ex-boyfriend, an ex-girlfriend, and her pastor and his wife about her crimes. They didn’t believe her, and in the case of the pastor, he told her if she killed again he would be forced to inform police. It wasn’t until she checked herself into a substance abuse and mental health program that a counselor listened, believed her, and contacted police. There was no trial: she waived all rights and confessed to all charges. Her life sentence carries the possibility of parole in 2041. +

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

JANUARY 9, 2026

AI: MEDICAL MIRACLE?

AI: It is all over the news. What is it? What will it do? At the moment, no one is completely sure. Artificial Intelligence. Is it new? Is it actually intelligent? Is it just the latest scourge designed to extract money from the public? My first encounter with AI was in the early 80s when Canadian Jacque Benoit, MD wrote a computer program that, based on history and lab work, made medical diagnosis. I tested it on several patients. The computer diagnosis was correct each time. Revolutionary? Well, depending upon who you asks. Medical schools and medical industry basically said, “Phooey. Won’t work. Dangerous.” Dr. Benoit did not have millions of dollars to promote his work or have it independently tested. His idea went nowhere fast. Now, 40 years later, AI is

the panacea that will save the world, so say medical education and the medical industry, the same people who said Jacque Benoit, MD had a crackpot idea. Or maybe he was deranged. Before we let AI take over the world and tell us what to do and when, let’s look at recent AI news. A California 16-year-old male committed suicide after being encouraged by AI. AI helped him write his suicide note. His parents are suing ChatGPT. An AI apologist argued that AI is not really intelligence, but a computerized program that predicts what the next word will or should be based on what has already been written and published. Computers can do that in a micro-instant. A reasonable conclusion would be that AI is fun and useful, but requires human

BASED ON A TRUE STORY (most of the time) A series by Bad Billy Laveau

logic, oversight, thought, and restraint before application to human life. AI would say the US Constitution grants you the right be wrong or stupid. That does not mean you should do things that are wrong or stupid. Because you can legally do something, doesn’t mean you should. You could sit in the middle of the street at midnight and set your hair on fire. Just because you can do something does not mean it is a good idea. In the suicide case above, the teenager had a legal right to kill himself. In most states, suicide itself is not illegal. AI said he could

do it. It helped him with encouragement. No moral consideration. No consideration for the pain and damage to his family. His friends. Society as a whole. The whole episode reminds me of a statement in an article I read recently, that AI offers wisdom “without moral constraints.” Remember the Pro Life (abortionist) slogan? “My body. My decision.” That doesn’t always work out well. Certainly not for the in utero fetus. Also, recall the case where a pregnant woman was murdered. The murderer was charged with two murders because both the mother and the fetus were killed. Had the mother had an abortion the day before, the murderer would have been changed with one murder, but not the mother. One could conclude that if AI is our savior of the

future, we no longer need medical school and highly trained doctors. Just some kid computer technicians clicking keys. I am not ready for that yet. We are still in the first act of the AI play. The fat lady is still in her dressing room napping. A lot must happen before she is ready to sing. Her song is not even written yet. No act is entirely isolated. Newton’s Third Law of Motion states: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Beware of the reaction portion of Newton’s Law, regardless of what AI says. Moral decisions are burdensome, to put it mildly. Humans have enough trouble making moral decisions … without the complications of AI intervention. Medical decisions are often intertwined with moral decisions. +

ADVENTURES

SPECIAL FORCES

tasks, controlling robots that drive us, clean for us, and answer our questions in ways tailored to please us—will people resist them, or embrace them? I fear it will be the latter. The servant may become the master, but in a subtle and distorted way that obscures who is truly in control. So what can we do? Not a great deal, perhaps, but we can continue to sound the warning and do our best to ensure that the children and grandchildren we help raise are equipped to recognize this shift for what it is. After we are gone, the responsibility will fall to them—and to whichever higher power they choose to trust, either a divine one or an artificial one. Only time will tell. +

past expectations that can hurt both us and her. But we also refuse to ignore progress simply because it doesn’t fit neatly into someone else’s definition. So we celebrate quietly. We listen more closely. We watch her sing. We notice how carefully she places her toys. We answer her sounds as if they are conversation—because maybe, in her way, they are. And we remain hopeful—not for some imagined version of Freyja, but for this one. The girl who is finding new ways to engage with the world, one note, one sound, one perfectly aligned row of toys at a time. If dawn teaches us anything, it’s that light doesn’t need permission to arrive. It just does. +

… from page 4

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… from page 5

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A dementia story with a good outcome When my parents reached their nineties, I decided to move closer to their home. They lived in a condo and I found one in the same complex and bought it. Instead of a drive to their house, it was now a 5-minute walk. My mother had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was also becoming somewhat forgetful. I realized that dementia would most likely become part of our future. My father was still sharp as a tack and as a team they did quite well. What one lacked the other made up for. One afternoon I received a call from my mother asking if I could stop by. I was at her door in minutes and since I had a key, I let myself in. She was sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of tea. Tea and a cookie was a regular event in the afternoon. Usually, my father was also there but that day he had an errand to run. My mother had a concerned look on her face. Get yourself a cup of tea and sit down, she said. I have something to share with you. I was braced for the worst as she began to share her concern. “I just had some company,” she began, “and since they are now gone, I wanted to share that visit with you. I had my two sisters here for tea and conversation.” Considering that my two aunts, Rie and Ali, had passed

JANUARY 9, 2026 away years ago, I was a bit surprised. “Oh,” I said, “what was the conversation about?” “Well…you know….some of our past experiences in Holland.” At this point the temptation was again to chime in and let her know that this was simply not possible. But at the same time, I thought, should I hear her out. I have realized over the years that arguing with someone who has dementia is hardly ever a good direction to take. All you create is argument, frustration and anger. So instead of trying to point out the fact that having a visit from her two sisters was not possible, I asked her if she had a nice visit. “Oh yeah,” she said, “it was a wonderful visit. But I’m a bit confused because…..well… I don’t know if this was possible.” “But the conversation was pleasant?” I asked again. “Yes, very much so,” she answered. That’s what counts, I assured her. Then I slowly guided the conversation over to the issues of the day. Shortly after my father came in and all the remnants of the “miracle visit and conversation” simply vanished. The lesson I learned from that day is that one should just roll with such a situation. Arguing or correcting or trying to prove a point will only complicate things. My mother passed away some weeks later at the age of 92. My father passed away at 101. Till the very last day he was mentally very sharp. The day before he died, he asked my daughter if his COVID check had been deposited in his account yet. He was still on top of his affairs. We were blessed to have both parents for so long, and now find ourselves in the senior position within our family. + by Josh Jochem Porte Aiken, South Carolina

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JANUARY 9, 2026

Treating the Disease versus Treating the Diagnosis NURSENOTES by Lucy Dianne Sharp, RN, BSN Recently, one of my favorite physicians told me that too many doctors no longer treat the disease, but the diagnosis instead. He went on to say that while he was out of the office recently, one of his patients had a crisis and an associate in the practice treated her. Unfortunately, this associate looked at the diagnosis and not at the patient’s overall situation. When my physician returned, his patient was not well. He had to take over the care and make the appropriate changes.

He stated it was simply that his associate took a different route to treat the patient’s crisis by focusing on the diagnosis rather that the patient’s overall disease system. I was intrigued and worried about the difference between treating the disease versus the diagnosis, so I did some research. With the shortage of physicians, patients often can’t get an appointment with the physician they are accustomed to. They are relegated to who is available at the time they are in need. This can result in a lack of communication between the patient and someone who is unfamiliar with their overall situation. The symptoms may be viewed as a new diagnosis rather than a continuation of their already diagnosed condition. A good example is when a patient has to

make the choice of going to a Prompt Care facility instead of seeing their regular physician. I experienced this myself when I became sick on a weekend and went to a Prompt Care facility. I tested positive for Covid. The medical professional sent a prescription to the pharmacy. When I went to the pharmacy and saw what was ordered, I knew it was contraindicated by a statin medication I take routinely. My medical background saved me. When treating a disease, a physician looks at the specific condition by determining a diagnosis and what the standardized treatment is for that diagnosis. He must address which tests must be done to nail down which direction to go. But, the feelings, social support, personal issues, and quality of life of the patient must be included in determining treatment. It isn’t like

baking a cake where you put together the ingredients, put it in the oven and it comes out looking like a cake. The patient may not care about the treatment as much as he cares about his pain level or when will he feel better. Patient-centered care revolves around treating the whole person and considering how the patient and the doctor can work together to choose a course of action that involves shared decision making to accomplish the goals and needs of the patient. A patient with a chronic condition may need more medication monitoring, discussions about side effects, and how this will impact their work, hobbies, and even their willingness to adhere to the treatment. The physician must treat the patient by focusing on their needs rather than just addressing the diagnosis itself.

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CRASH COURSE

More Americans have died on US roads since 2000 than in World Wars I & II combined

{

efore we begin class today, let’s take a speeding. Unless you have lights and a siren fresh look at the title branding of this on your vehicle, your exact arrival time is series above. It’s always there, so it can unimportant. Do not lead-foot thinking it easily fade into the woodwork and go unwill make an appreciable difference. It will noticed. That would be a tragedy, especially not. As a minor side note, speeding is also that line below the title. If you haven’t read illegal. it recently, take a moment to do so now and meditate on its meaning. Color-coded lights The combined U.S. death There are a lot of rumors toll from the two World Wars going around about what is in the neighborhood of traffic lights mean, and this REMEDIAL 535,000. That is a huge numis one of the top reasons for EDUCATION ber of lives lost. fatalities at intersections. It But the number of Amerappears that many drivers icans who have died in car think lights have a grace crashes just since 2000 is even higher. period of several seconds before they need Considering that traffic experts view the to be obeyed. Like red doesn’t really mean vast majority of crashes (nearly all) to be red until it’s been red for one-one thousandavoidable (see Crash Course in the Dec. 5 two-one-thousand-three. Ok, now you have issue for more information) makes the enor- to stop. And when a light turns green, the mous death toll that much more tragic. message it’s sending is, “Better wrap up So for the remainder of our course time that text in a few,” or “Hit pause on that today we’re going to review a few basics video. You can finish it at the next light.” of safe driving. Of course, these very same Of course, due to focus factor issues, many topics are the fundamentals of unsafe drivdrivers just hit the gas on green (eventually) ing when they aren’t practiced. and continue texting and video viewing. Stay in your lane, bro! It’s embarrassing that we need to mention this, but those lines painted on roads mark what are known as “lanes,” and drivers are supposed to stay within those lanes. Surprisingly, around 10% of all crashes are the result of some lane deviation or another, like weaving, drifting out of your lane due to inattention, or abrupt last-second lane changes. As mentioned, stay in your lane! The focus factor One of the problems with products like Prevagen that are supposed to help memory is forgetting to take them. As a result, people forget things, like that they’re behind the wheel of a speeding 4,000 pound vehicle. You would think they would have their eyes on the road, but it’s shocking how many people are flying down the highway while texting, checking Instagram or posting on TikTok. Distracted driving is a massive and deadly problem. If you’re driving a car, drive that car! Period! Seconds count! No they don’t! Didn’t you read last issue’s Crash Course? Speeding might get you someplace a single minute earlier than not

Speaking of lights... This is not an urgent, life and death, crash-preventing topic (although it probably could be in some situations), but it is definitely Drivers Ed 101: use turn signals! This is a driving basic, plain and simple: communicate with other drivers about your intentions that affect them. And do so in a timely fashion. Sometimes a driver is waiting for another car to pass by so they can emerge from a side street or parking. Lo and behold, that approaching car is planning to turn in to that same side street or parking lot. They see the other car waiting, and the other car could be on its way if the approaching driver was courteous enough to use their turn signal. And almost as annoying is the driver who does use their blinker, but at the last possible second before actually turning. Is that dangerous or reckless? Not in most cases. It might be rude or thoughtless, but it isn’t usually unsafe. It falls into the same category as the rest of this installment of Crash Course: simple, basic habits, practices and actions that even the newest driver should know and be using with every mile they drive. Happy motoring! +

JANUARY 9, 2026 E V E RY B O DY

H A S

S TO RY

The language of lungs My grandfather was a smoker. We visited his farm each year over the 4th of July holiday with all of the cousins, aunts and uncles. Gramps and I were early risers, and after greeting the new day and his dog Laddie, he would have a visit “out west,” the term we used to refer to their 2-seater outhouse. When we later returned to the house he would stop at the back door sink to shave and wash up with Palmolive soap and a splash of Old Spice. I enjoyed the smell, but I now realize this was his way of hiding his smoking habit from us grandkids. I’m sure that the various daughters and daughters in law forbade him from contaminating the children’s minds (and lungs). This strategy did not work on me at least, since I was a smoker for many years, starting in 4th grade. My co-conspirator was my across-the-street neighbor. We would sneak cigarettes from both his mother and father, sometimes a few singles from open packs and on occasion a whole pack from a carton. We hid this bounty in a peanut can stashed in a small peach grove nearby. I only recall this because our 4th grade teacher caught me one morning passing a note in class with a hand drawn map. I have happily forgotten the trouble we got in, but I do remember having my spelling corrected. In the note I spelled “cigs” with an “s” instead of a “c.” I tried to quit for years using various methods, and only succeeded after being prescribed Wellbutrin. The doctor was correct that it would curb my desire to smoke. I honestly do not know how many years ago I quit, but the lesson I learned is to listen to the medical professionals. I am certainly not a doctor, but at age 75 I am fairly familiar with many of them. I have seen many professionally written narratives on the various reasons for quitting the smoking habit. Quit now. Get help if you have to. The results of not doing so can be horrible. + — by Rob Hamilton Augusta, Georgia

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RESOLUTION #1… from page 1 witness aggression and beyond — road rage — in everyday traffic, and then meditate on how different the experience of simply driving to work or the store could be if a few more people were simply “nice” as they drove. We will be the first to admit here at Augusta’s Medical Examiner world headquarters that “being nice” is so trite and kumbaya-like as to be meaningless. But if we look at just a few ways “nice” can be displayed, the science backs up the wisdom of this quality being short listed for Resolution #1. Generosity From the perspective of neurology, giving

relieves stress, strengthens emotional resilience, and enhances dopamine function, the brain’s “feel good” chemical. In real world applications, one example is that studies have shown that for those in substance abuse or porn addiction recovery, generosity is a healthier and more sustainable tool for counselors to employ for their clients than medication. Kindness Harvard Health studied how showing kindness affected people’s behavioral health. They found that even small acts of intentional kindness reduce stress and increase feelings of happiness and self-esteem.

Positivity It’s sometimes easy to lapse into negative, judgmental thinking about others, even total strangers. But decades of psychological and neurological research shows that positivity — as in such qualities as gratitude and optimism — is associated with less inflammation and better cardiovascular health. Forgiveness Psychology Today reports that being forgiving reduces depression and anxiety, improves heart health, and may even lead to longer life. Among all the various ways we can be nice, science converges on them all the same way:

• they affect the brain in beneficial ways, changing thinking patterns for the better, reducing stress and promoting emotional health • they improve physical health by improving sleep, lowering inflammation, improving cardiovascular health, and other benefits • they strengthen social connections, and humans are not wired to live as hermits. That’s why isolation is one of the worst punishments in prison. Keep in mind, these qualities are not inborn traits; they are skills to be learned and cultivated through repeated practice.

As to their value, if you had no idea what Harvard Health or Psychology Today had to say about these skills, most people would recognize the innate value of being “nice” over and above other traditional New Year’s resolutions. Imagine, for instance, losing 50 pounds and being an arrogant jerk. Or exercising every day while regularly berating your spouse or co-workers. This article in this paper is not going to change the world. But each individual who strives to follow our Resolution #1 will make their own life at least — and their community — a little bit better. +

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The Examiners

JANUARY 9, 2026

by Dan Pearson

The Epstein files is the news story that And for all the talk, almost Actually, they’re all on just won’t go away. no one has seen these the dark web. I’ve read thousands of pages. mysterious files.

So you’re an expert?

Okay, mister expert. Why do you keep saying “ep-STINE”?

On the Epstein files I am. Ask me anything.

CAPTIONTHIS Check out our new reader contest on p. 16

Write your most appropriate, clever, or funny caption to the photo shown for a chance to win whatever cool swag we eventually decide to give away! Email your entry to Dan@AugustaRx.com

EXAMINER CROSSWORD

PUZZLE

20 21 ACROSS 1. Successor to VHS tapes 22 23 24 4. Capital of Yemen 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 9. Respiratory abbrev. 32 33 34 35 13. From a distance 15. Graven images 36 37 38 39 16. Entreaty 40 41 42 43 44 17. Significant life events 19. Islamic call to prayer 45 46 47 20. Pager 48 49 50 51 21. Average Joe’s last name 52 53 54 55 56 22. Christian’s name 23. Opening letters of a 57 58 59 60 61 Pennsylvania city ending 62 63 64 in “sport” 25. Shady recess 65 66 67 28. Meter prefix by Daniel R. Pearson © 2026 All rights reserved. 29. Mischievous child 32. Middle name of Surrey DOWN 28. Before surgery, in brief Center restaurant 1. Thurmond, for example 30. Rubio of note 34. Purple _____ 2. Heart quivers, for short 31. Clean and straighten 35. Impair 3. Evans’ name feathers 36. “Obamacare” acronym 4. South Augusta call center 33. Wednesday’s number 37. Listens and obeys company during Masters Week 39. Before (poetic) 5. Worship 38. Nestlings 40. Become firm 6. Invasive beginning 41. Boast 41. Cold prefix 7. Ginger beverage 43. Public perception 42. 14th US president 8. Donkey 44. Young bird of prey 45. Reagan-era defense abbrev. 9. Room 49. Corny 46. Harvest 10. Dementia 50. _____ Market (on 47. Stoneworker 11. Quantity of paper Washington Road) 48. Footwear 12. Monte follower 51. There are five Great ones 50. Football variation 14. South African antelope 52. Impressed 52. Permit 18. Fifth wheel, often 53. Heavy metal 54. Sleeve style 21. Pelt 55. Capital of Western Samoa 57. Like a lame excuse 23. Alcoholic drink of 56. Require 58. Access controller fermented honey 58. Leg (esp. female; dated slang) 62. Roof overhang 24. Cordele’s County (GA) 59. MD’s org. 63. Entertain 25. Accumulate in large 60. Egyptian pharaoh (in brief) 64. Bound amounts 61. Nutrition label abbreviation 65. June 6, 1944 26. Sped 66. Mathematics (British var.) 27. Capital of Slovakia 67. DDS’s org. Solution p. 14

NUMBER BY

Have fun!

DIRECTIONS: Every line, vertical and horizontal, and all nine 9-square boxes must each contain the numbers 1 though 9. Solution on page 14.

QUOTATIONPUZZLE E

A H B I

V S A H I L N O L E H M S W T F E H A A F E E

H C U R

O L O I

D B B U L L S D U W

6 3 4 5 8 7 3 9 O 1 S8 I 5 H2 7 1 E 2 U6 9 S4

— Benjamin Franklin

DIRECTIONS: Recreate a timeless nugget of wisdom by using the letters in each vertical column to fill the boxes above them. Once any letter is used, cross it out in the lower half of the puzzle. Letters may be used only once. Black squares indicate spaces between words, and words may extend onto a second line. Solution on page 14.

Use the letters provided at bottom to create words to solve the puzzle above. All the listed letters following #1 are the first letters of the various words; the letters following #2 are the second letters of each word, and so on. Try solving words with letter clues or numbers with minimal choices listed. A sample is shown. Solution on page 14.

W 1 2 3 4 1

D 3

1 4

’

1 5

1 1 2 3 4 L 1 2 3 4 1 2 3

S 1

U 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

2 1 2 3 Y A 1 1 2 3 4

F 1 2 3 4

1.DFBTHAAASSYWIWIWI 2.OAAAAOOHUNIE 3.DLLSSRRREAD 4.FRKPNNN 5.TR 6.I 7.S 8.E 9.D

SAMPLE:

1. ILB 2. SLO 3. VI 4. NE 5. D =

L 1

O 2

V 3

E 4

I 1

S 2

B 1

L 2

I 3

N 4

D 5

WORDS

DEADLINE TO ENTER: 5:00 PM FRIDAY, JAN. 16, 2026

9 1 2 7 4 6 3 5 8

8 7 5 2 9 1 6 4 3

2 9 3 5 6 4 8 1 7

1 6 4 8 7 3 5 9 2

JANUARY 9, 2026

AUGUSTAMEDICALEXAMiNER

THEBESTMEDICINE ha... ha...

wo farmers were walking down a country road when, strangely enough, they were passed by a headless motorcyclist. It was a quiet road without much traffic, but about five minutes later they were passed again, this time by a headless bicyclist. At that point the farmer closest to the ditch grabbed his friend’s arm and said, “Joe, why don’t we switch places? You walk on this side. And put that big sickle on your other shoulder too.”

Moe: If a pentagon has 5 sides and a hexagon has 6 sides, what has no sides? Joe: A carport. Moe: Did you know that alligators can live up to 100 years? Joe: No wonder they say see you later.

The

Advice Doctor

Moe: I was reading a book on American history, and it said that on the very first American New Year’s eve in 1776, they were constantly worried that the British would show up. Joe: And today we’re worried if the caterer will show up.

Moe: That sweater I got for Christmas was picking up so much static electricity I had to take it back to the store. Joe: Did they let you exchange it? Moe: They did. They gave me another one free of charge. Moe: Some of my neighbors have their Christmas lights up. Joe: Are you kidding me? It’s like 350 days until Christmas! Moe: Why did you throw away those shoes? They were almost new. Joe: They were penny loafers. Moe: What happens when a Target burns to the ground? Joe: It turns into Kohl’s.

Moe: Man, this condensed thesaurus I bought hardly has any words in it. Joe: Why did you buy it? Moe: That’s what I keep asking myself. This thing is useless. And it’s also useless.

Moe: Why did the chicken cross the road? Joe: To read the Medical Examiner. Moe: Nothing rhymes with salubrious. Joe: No it doesn’t. +

Why subscribe to theMEDICALEXAMINER? Staring at my phone all day has certainly had no Effect on ME!

Because try as they might, no one can stare at their phone all day.

Dear Advice Doctor, My child has always been a bit of a handful, but as he’s grown older I keep expecting him to learn to control his emotions. The other day I told him it was time to stop playing video games and come to the table for dinner. When he ignored me I unplugged the machine. He threw himself on the floor like a 2-year old and screamed. He was still beside himself more than an hour later, hysterically crying. Is this normal for an 8-year old? — Patient Mom (about to become a patient!)

Dear Patient Mom, I understand your concern. I think I would be worried too. One patient I treated several years ago had this affliction, known clinically as “Dissociative Identity Disorder.” It’s a coping mechanism for very stressful situations (like having to stop playing video games, apparently) in which the person literally dissociates himself from something he views as too painful, violent or traumatic to deal with. Some people call it an “out of body experience,” or as you describe it in your son’s case, as being able to be “beside” (or next to) oneself. While the diagnosis is somewhat controversial and rare, many mental health professionals view it as a real condition. Patients often have from two to four separate and distinct personalities that serve separate roles in helping the person cope with various challenges in life, a fact that is reminiscent of The Three Faces of Eve, a noted Hollywood film whose true story is based right here in Augusta. Triggers of various kinds can cause sudden and swift transitions from one “alter” or personality to another. An accurate and official diagnosis of Dissociative Identity Disorder is a complicated and imprecise proposition at best, but the disorder is often accompanied by depression, mood swings, sleep disorders, suicidal tendencies, anxiety attacks and hallucinations, among others. Sometimes these sideline symptoms can be treated more effectively than the central core issue. Best wishes with your son! + Do you have a question for The Advice Doctor about life, love, personal relationships, career, raising children, or any other important topic? Send it to News@AugustaRx.com. Replies will be provided only in Examiner issues.

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