William Heisel's Antidote: Investigating Untold Health Stories

A columnist’s parting words of wisdom: Ask more. Learn more. Write less.

William Heisel — Wed, 20 Dec 2017 11:00:00 +0000

In his farewell post for the Antidote blog, veteran health care journalist Bill Heisel urges fellow journalists to adopt a posture of humility in the face of the vast, complex field that is health and health care.

We do better by our sources when we take the time to consider their humanity

William Heisel — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 11:00:00 +0000

In his first of two final posts for the Antidote blog, longtime contributing editor William Heisel reflects on how journalists can cultivate a more thoughtful relationship with their sources.

Body Brokers: Journalists track painful new twists in turning body parts into profit

William Heisel — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 12:00:00 +0000

In the gray market for human body parts, companies and body brokers keep adapting to a changing industry. Here are some key takeaways from a recent Reuters series for reporters seeking to cover the ghoulish business.

Body Brokers: New reporting shows how money is still being made off the dead

William Heisel — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 11:00:00 +0000

The trade in human body parts in still rife with problems, 17 years after the Orange County Register detailed the horrors in "The Body Brokers" series. A new Reuters investigation provides a gruesome update.

Doctor Update: Maine psychiatrist caught prescribing to a patient in jail

William Heisel — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Psychiatrist Reinaldo de los Heros has had more lives than a cat. For years, he was allowed to continue practicing, even after the death of one of his patients. But recent actions by Maine's medical board suggest his luck may have finally run out.

Free Your Mind: Put people before problems as you write about drugs

William Heisel — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 11:00:00 +0000

The simple act of putting the emphasis on the person and not on their health problem – be it a drug use disorder or something else – will have an impact on how you view the sources of your stories and how the story connects with your audience.

Free Your Mind: Why is it so hard to change the way we talk about addiction?

William Heisel — Wed, 27 Sep 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Drug use, misuse and addiction are so embedded in our popular culture that we have grown accustomed to seeing, hearing or reading about every permutation of the experience.

Free Your Mind: Will the Associated Press change how we talk about drugs?

William Heisel — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Recent stories from the New York Times and the Washington Post encapsulate why language choices are so important for responsible reporting on addiction.

Free Your Mind: Solving drug epidemic calls for crisis mentality

William Heisel — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Now that President Trump has officially declared the opioid crisis a national emergency, data can inform how to properly tackle the problem, community by community.

Court pits privacy versus safety in prescription drug case

William Heisel — Thu, 03 Aug 2017 11:00:00 +0000

The California Supreme Court just armed would be challengers to the state’s prescription drug tracking system. And defanging the system would have an impact on patient safety.

California doctor fails in bid to stop prescription drug tracking

William Heisel — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Does the California Medical Board have the right to check records to see if a doctor is recklessly prescribing drugs? For the past three years, that question has been stuck in the courts.

Island of Doubt: How to watch out for fish stories, on land or water

William Heisel — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Paying attention to the language that people use when they are relating something they say happened to them is one of the best techniques you can use for “catching and releasing” those dubious fish stories.

Island of Doubt: What to do when the lie becomes the story

William Heisel — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 11:00:00 +0000

When it turns out a source has been lying to you about a central theme of a story you care deeply about, it can be agonizing to have to own up to that fact.

Island of Doubt: When reporting on patient stories, trust, but verify

William Heisel — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 11:00:00 +0000

When you start combing through the medical records, it can get messy. You'll want to walk through the records with the patient or their family to resolve discrepancies and questions.

Island of Doubt: When it comes to medical mysteries, examine the charts

William Heisel — Wed, 24 May 2017 11:00:00 +0000

Here’s the first question you should ask when someone contacts you with a tip about something amiss with a patient’s care: “Can you get access to the medical records?”