Disqus - Latest Comments for Steven Murphy MD

Re: Googley bio

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 23 May 2007 23:52:49 -0000

Interesting way to raise capital.....
I think Google is in the genomic revolution to win it.
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Googley bio

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 26 May 2007 11:02:01 -0000

Could this be Google's Iraq?
-Steve

www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Your personal health: Consumer genomics becomes reality

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 18:47:58 -0000

Thanks for the post. There is just a lot of gray out there now. I don't feel confident in any company giving advice based on non-replicated data. But what accountants or investors care about scientific data?
-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: Your personal health: The internet and privacy

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 20:25:35 -0000

I think we need a little reality check. Other than employers and health insurers, I can think of 5 other people who shouldn't be allowed access to someone's genome

1. Identity Thieves
2. Criminals
3. Life Insurers
4. Potential Mates (although there are certain ethinic groups in the city who have matchmakers) See Gattaca
5. People looking to make a profit off it and not include me in the financial benefit.

I am certian there are more, but this is my first 5. Let's take off the rose-colored glasses.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Your personal health: The internet and privacy

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 09:56:22 -0000

Deepak,
Ok, fair enough. Buyer Beware. Maybe the free market will create a genome protection service like life-lock....hey wait a second....That sounds like a great idea. Or maybe we can have brokers who will sell you a genome on the black market in order to afford opportunities such as getting into college. As far as I know, that's not covered by GINA. I am all for advancement of science and medicine. And I am a Libertarian sooooooooo. I just think we should help educate all about the good, the bad, and the ugly.
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Playing personal genomics catchup

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 21:33:46 -0000

Deepak,
I totally agree. This will get MUCH worse, before it reaches equilibrium.
-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: Your personal health: Google Health is live

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:58:51 -0000

Daring, you are.....
-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: The right to get yourself genotyped

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:57:23 -0000

It's not the lobbyists. It is the lack of self-regulation. Ever heard of Big Oil? Tobacco? Pharma? Well, genetics hasn't regulated itself for 30+ years. Now the gov't plans to step in. I cover this in my recent posts.
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: jay parkinson + md + mph = doctor in brooklyn - The new Hello Health Boutique in the West Village...

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 12:55:09 -0000

Nicely done! Matt T. says hello.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: jay parkinson + md + mph = doctor in brooklyn - UCLA leaks Farah Fawcett's medical information to the Inquirer

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:39:27 -0000

Agreed. Jay, you and I are on the same page. Even if you didn't agree when I sent Mr. Tindall your way.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: jay parkinson + md + mph = doctor in brooklyn - PRI, the 2nd largest malpractice insurer in NY, is insolvent

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 20 May 2009 21:46:10 -0000

Jaythere is a third called AMS which now writes in CT and NY.

Re: 23andMe lets you search and share your genome — today

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 22:25:24 -0000

DIY genome testing. What's next DIY brain surgery? Who owns your saliva after you submit the sample? The Answer: Not YOU!
I am certain 23andME will own it as the consent form stipulates. What do you expect from a company not run by professionals who took an oath to protect the patient.
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: deCODEme and its questionable disease-risk predictions

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:29:33 -0000

David,
Thank you for this well written post. Your investigative work is notable. This is what I have been shouting about for the last 2 months! This is why I am getting calls from the "Other" SNP service. I will make you an honorary Sherpa! Great Post!
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com
www.helixhealth.org

Re: Bummer… I’m One of Those Customers

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 09:58:56 -0000

Well,
I would want to make sure that my results come from a CLIA certified lab. Otherwise.....they could just as well be making it up and never testing your spit. Lucky you. I think everyone who tested before should be allowed to their new samples tested in a CLIA certified lab for FREE!!!!! Otherwise they could be getting someone else's data.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Bummer… I’m One of Those Customers

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:46:29 -0000

Andrew,
Maybe you are mistaken on what CLIA is ;) What good is a lab's/person's word? If you think that it is very good without certification, well then you are less skeptical than I. Keep the faith and be glad that they switched Labs. Too bad they now have LabCorp in lock down. It turns out LabCorp has NYS certification too, something that is required for testing in NYC. Now LabCorp is placing all its other Genomic Testing company agreements on Hold.....personally, they may try and get out of the 23andme deal too.....so be glad you are getting your SNPs done by LabCorp...that may not last too long.
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Genetic Testing on The John and Ken Show

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 06 May 2008 15:10:22 -0000

Dude, The recording is running at 2x speed. They sound like the chipmunks covering genetics and John McCain. Odds in Vegas.....by Alvin the Chipmunk
God, I love Trish's chipmunk voice
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: GINA Series: When Employer Genetic Testing is Appropriate [Page 3]

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 28 May 2008 09:38:43 -0000

Drew,
Medicare, the governmemtal service here in the US does pay for certain genomic tests, including CYP 450 2C9 testing for coumadin metabolism. HIPAA does a decent job of covering governemntal and private misuse of some standard healthcare information. Unfortunately, this may not be enough. You should really seek out Gary Marchand at ASU of Barbara Evans at Houston for more information.

As for Bringning Genomic Medicine to Healthcare.....There are several geneticists and physicians equipped, it is just a matter of getting them interested in providing services which aren't always properly paid for. Nationalized Healthcare systems potential could take your genome without asking for it.....that is a problem with nationalized system. My idea would be to guarantee non discrimination and then give the patient tax breaks if they participate in the submission of their genomes.....not even 23andMe are doing that.

-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: GINA Series: Health Care and Genetic Testing [Page 4]

Steven Murphy MD — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:04:20 -0000

Drew,
This is a well laid argument. I am in agreement that we should be proactive with health and wellness. Viewing pre-disease just as seriously as disease itself. I am not against insurers knowing your genome. I am against them raising premiums unfairly or dropping you altogether from insurance because of your genome. We all know that you are more than your genome, you are your environment too...... Unless Insurance will move you away from that highway or relocate you to a place with less dust mites etc....they should not be in the game of creating untouchable uninsureds.

Thanks for the very well written post! And for mentioning our practices and my blog :)

-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: Let’s Share 23andMe data!

Steven Murphy MD — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:26:13 -0000

Like me?
-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: A genetic marker for nearsightedness? Update on vitamins and AMD

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:23:43 -0000

Josh,
2 out of 3 is pretty good. They do vision screening in the pediatrician's office. It is better than a SNP. But, that being said....there is very little evidence behind "preventing" it. Perhaps there is early detection to prevent learning disabilities etc..... But I remain of skeptic of that one. Especially given the lack of replication and not the strongest OR.
-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: Absence of “High Penetrance” in SNP Genomic Services

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:44:59 -0000

It is all medically useful or useless. Either way it IS medicine. Test for disease risk? Then you are performing medicine. Check out the state laws in 42 of our great States.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Podcast: How Genomic Medicine Is Changing the Management of Breast & Ovarian Cancer

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 12:31:23 -0000

Thanks for putting this out there guys!
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Napster of Medicine

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 05:45:43 -0000

Love the post!
-Steve
p.s. I love NEO(Vaporous Computer Nerds).....he joins forces with the Matrix(Physicians) to defeat Agent Smith(Gov't)! Remember?

Re: Blue light used to harden tooth fillings stunts tumor growth

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:29:33 -0000

Josh,
Presented at a conference is code word for non-peer reviewed garbage.....
I wouldn't hype this one.....
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Who Will Survive the “The Chasm”?

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 12:06:40 -0000

You forgot Helix Health ;)

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Is Helix Health a Top Competitor in DTC Genomics?

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:44:13 -0000

If we were just ONE office..... ;)
Great business argument. I would say, we could last the regulations and still do "regular" medicine, especially if the government decides to OUTLAW genetics.

The true potential is not in how many patients we examine........

-Steve
www.helixhealth.org
P.S. I don't feel slighted at all.....I was just kidding BTW

Re: Is Helix Health a Top Competitor in DTC Genomics?

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:14:48 -0000

Thanks for the support ECO ;)
-Steve

www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Symbiotic microbes induce profound genetic changes in their hosts

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 21:46:15 -0000

H Pylori is the tip of the iceberg. CagA is only one player in the host-bug epigenome environment.......

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Common Responses to Why DTC Genomics is Dead: Coriell PMC

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:11:32 -0000

Coriell is doing socially responsible genomics.
End of story.
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Common Responses to Why DTC Genomics is Dead: Coriell PMC

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:50:41 -0000

Neither is a profit from the SNP test(sans services)companies.

But I would say CPMC's expansion is much more likely than the former

Re: 23andMe Is DTC Genomics and Nobody Should Be Surprised

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 08:06:15 -0000

Thanks for the insult.....
Good post...
-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Why the “Database Sale Story” is Silly

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:46:18 -0000

This is a must watch fellas...I have posted it twice and will repost it on Monday..

http://masterplanthemovie.com/

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Why the “Database Sale Story” is Silly

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 21:28:47 -0000

"So what if Google is getting into health care? Give me one concrete fact why Google in health would make my life objectively worse."

2 words Dean Ornish.....Dean is their medical advisor and what's his answer to better health? "More Love" Bullshit...here's an answer......pay freakin primary care doctors twice what they are getting paid now to see half as many patients....I don't see google doing that...

"Show me evidence of this impending Google malice that threatens me personally."
http://www.google.com/health_hipaa.html
Not HIPAA compliant my friend...why does everyone think that sales of this information will be to the benign Pharma companies.....There are several F'in bigger fish that want that data

1.)MetLife
2.)The Hartford
3.)Any bank thinking of loaning you money

Give me a break Drew. This play has nothing to do with healthcare and everything to do with discrimination.....Think a FICO score is a big deal imagine your banker knowing you are predisposed to heart attacks when you try to take out that mortgage....Come on, you have to see that as a serious possibility, especially know that they have an algorithm to re-identify de-indentified DNA samples....

http://valleywag.com/5025875/google-cofounder-f...

"But isn’t that the fault of the health care establishment, you know, the system that doesn’t treat what it knows about, and not the service that tries to learn what about me can be improved?"

I agree the system is broken, but tests that aren't evene scientifically or medically validated are not the way to fix this problem....How does a SNP scan give you better health Drew. I challenge you on that one. How will a SNP scan be used for better research without accompanying medical data like Coriell???

"Give me one good reason why I should defend the status quo of health care."

I never asked you too.

"it’s foolishly funded by risk ignorance, and its only impetus is health emergency? What crap. Instead of me paying to pumping crones full of drugs for two more years of semiconscious Jerry Springer, how about I get health care that improve the lives of young people like me who already seem healthy today?"

I agree...we should stop treating people who have a negative life expectancy based on family history......And all patients should have to pay out of pocket for ICU care if they have a terminal illness....That will fix the system. NOT SNP scans and google searches....

"I can see Google providing services like that in exchange for referring my health profile to, for example, drug companies. Fine. Great."

It's not the drug companies I care about Drew....it is the financial institutions that set our credit rating and determine our borrowing capacity. You have to see that as a real possibility.

BTW, if you want to get people signing up for these scans all you have to do is give them Google stock for taking the test.....

"But, as far as I can tell, my life has only gotten much better thanks to Google and its satellite projects."

Ahhh yes.......they have done great things in IT, Advertising, Economics, Education. But, unless they want to spend their money on primary care doctors and preventative care delivery rather than collecting bullshit SNP data they will NEVER do anything great with healthcare...Sorry

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Media-Induced Confusion about LRRK2 Discussed in 23andMe Forums

Steven Murphy MD — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 21:26:17 -0000

Nice wrap up Drew. I am sure they will benefit from this. Did you tell him about mutations like me???

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Translating “Gene Sherpa” to “Silicon Valley”

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 08:32:33 -0000

Thanks for the motivation!
-Steve

Re: Gene Sherpa Reports Systemic Medical Insurance Fraud

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 08:43:00 -0000

Wow! Drew. I gues you are mad because I said Silly-Con Valley Types......
No one said Counseling would die with counselors. I just wanted to provide a legal billing option for genetics departments. That's all. BTW, can your python program give a tissue or a hug? What about a warm, "It's going to be ok". Until we all mutate into klingons or vulcans, your solution is only for the Millenial Generation.

XOXO

-Gossip Girl

Re: deCODE: The “Decide to Take Action” Line is Magic, is not Medicine

Steven Murphy MD — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 13:49:26 -0000

F*c&!

Re: New journal shows half-broken gene is enough to cause cancer

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 10:36:28 -0000

Great post Josh! We have suspected this to be the case clinically. It is nice to see some evidence supporting this anecdote.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: The Unusually High Standards of Genomics

Steven Murphy MD — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 09:59:37 -0000

Andrew,
If they didn't want the scrutiny, they could have picked another field.....Geneticists have been picky from the very beginning, Medical geneticists even more so........They entered a field with several barriers to entry and now you are complaining about the scrutiny which everyone in this field faces? Maybe 23andMe is off the hook if they decide only to do ancestry and non-medical risk SNPs, but by putting medical risk SNPs on their chip....guess what? They enter the field too.......Welcome to the Jungle......

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Navigenics’ Medical Advice

Steven Murphy MD — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 10:03:40 -0000

Andrew,
I am deeply disturbed by that company approved press release. This is very troublesome. Walking the line between medicine and not medicine is a game that is played by several companies, and frankly Navigenics has now just entered that fringe realm.......

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: 23andMe

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 20:33:20 -0000

I would look for confirmation from 23andMe, before I believe that they ALWAYS destroyed the samples.....

-Steve

Re: Absence of “High Penetrance” in SNP Genomic Services

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:27:18 -0000

The official line is that low penetrance genes are more common and thus more relevant. From Dr. Nierenberg of Navigenics:

“In the case of the BRCA genes, only a relatively small proportion of the population – as low as 5% - carry one or more of these genes. We are focused on SNPs that are apparent within whole populations. We make it clear in our literature that we do not test for this type of gene.”

Yeah, and it just so happens that the 10% (not 5%) actually has medically actionable validity....

-Steve

Re: The Gift of Ancestry at 23andMe

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 10:38:50 -0000

Love it! Buy Rubenstein.......Medicine? Ask Marketing :)

-Steve

Re: Helicos Error Rates

Steven Murphy MD — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:13:37 -0000

Agreed.
-Steve

Re: 23andMe to Create Institutional Review Board

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:15:43 -0000

Here! Here!!!

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: New Physician

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:12:01 -0000

Nice Pic....

Re: Response to “That’s Just Boilerplate” comment

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 23:23:24 -0000

Not all science makes the cut to become medical care fellas.....that's just how it is.....Scientific validity is no substitute for clinical utility......

Re: The Great American Health Insurance Compromise

Steven Murphy MD — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:52:35 -0000

Now include, "Getting There From Here" by Atul Gawande in this month's edition of the New Yorker and you will see where we soon shall be in about 6 months. AHIP gave equally to both parties....forced to carry health insurance? Why not. We are forced to carry Car Insurance
:-P

-Steve
www.helixhealth.org

Re: Coriell PMC Launches Web Portal

Steven Murphy MD — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 10:03:59 -0000

Points:
1. As for nationwide availability, Navi can't test people in NY or several other states where it is ILLEGAL to perform DTC testing
2. Navigenics and 23andME test results did take longer than immediately to come back. Most of these took a month or so
3. I think they may be working on the email and video consent stuff.....I think.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Legal Details of a USA Certificate of Confidentiality in Medical Research

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:20:39 -0000

@ Anonoymous......
Funny, last time I checked, that's what people are scared of "Involuntary Disclosure" through legal stuff.....As for a NON-FOR-PROFIT, releasing data FOR PROFIT MOTIVE is not in the spirit of that company......However, DTC FOR PROFIT companies will release and have Neither HIPAA or Certificate protections......

Thus, I say....stay away from any company who can SELL your genome without your approval.....I.E. 23andMe, Decode, Navigenics, DNADynasty, et.al.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: Photographic Guide to Myriad’s BRCA Testing Kit

Steven Murphy MD — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 09:24:57 -0000

A perfect Genomic Sequence is only 1/3,000,000,000th of the way there......we need clinical correlation with each of those base pairs......
We already have some good clinical correlation with MOST family history.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: 23andMe in the Medical Space

Steven Murphy MD — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:46:25 -0000

Why should you ever have to retest DNA?
CLIA certification is a start, NYS and Ca State registration is a plus, ISO certification is even better.

Some states allow patients to order medical tests, some don't. Why not just call these few SNPs what they are, medical tests and let the law decide who orders what?

The disclaimer should read:" We are running a cheap knock off production and charging you entirely too much for it. In addition we are stealing your data and selling to the highest bidder. If you STILL want to use us rather than have your data safely protected from others looking to obtain your data...Heck, sign on up and join the conversation"

This is a clear move towards Clinical Applicability, stop fooling yourself.

-Steve
www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: 23andMe in the Medical Space

Steven Murphy MD — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:21:54 -0000

Ouch,
I have never stated that 23andME should be represented by this disclaimer I suggested.

DNA retesting should not be prompted by whether the first test was cheap or not. It should be guided by how well do you trust the labs results. If the test results are not to be trusted, then even the public should not place their trust in them. Most tests are reliable.

As for your right to know your DNA......sure. But does a company have the ability to give you a clinical interpretation without accepting regulations THAT WE ALL HAVE TO ABIDE BY when we give clinical interpretation????

What is clinical interpretation? Descriptions which MAY be interpreted by the average person as able to be used for healthcare guidance. Plain and simple.

Have your As, Gs, Cs and Ts.......just skip the interpretation and my argument will be destroyed.

-Steve

www.thegenesherpa.blogspot.com

Re: The Problem with “Health Information Technology” in Two Paragraph Quotes

Steven Murphy MD — Fri, 08 May 2009 11:10:31 -0000

I would say with the addition of my patients' records, lab results and even EKGs and radiology on my iphone, you have already proven yourself to be invaluable.

-Steve

Re: The Problem with “Health Information Technology” in Two Paragraph Quotes

Steven Murphy MD — Sat, 23 May 2009 10:46:01 -0000

Jay,
I think it is because you made reference that it was just you and 2 others working on Hello Health......which seemed revolutionary rather than corporate and hyped......
But the bus made things much clearer for us.
Good luck with your company.
-Steve