Most of us can’t live without information we find on the Internet, and, happily, most of us realize that not all information found there is worth our attention. Tests that claim to identify whether or not you have Alzheimer’s disease are among these shabby offerings. A preliminary report presented at the recent Alzheimer’s Association International….
Continue ReadingArchives for July 2013
Finding Better Doctors by Tracking Prescribing Habits
When you need a prescription drug, often your doctor has a choice. What’s best for one patient with your condition might not be best for you-choosing the best drug is a matter of problem-solving, of matching a person’s variables-age, gender, allergies, other health issues, etc.-with the drug most likely to provide benefit with minimal risk….
Continue ReadingA Sea of Silence Between Doctors and Patients About Prostate Testing
Despite fairly broad coverage on the subject, a recent report shows that men and their doctors aren’t talking about the risks and benefits of prostate cancer screening. A couple of years ago, as we wrote, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommended against routine testing for most men, and guidelines compiled by the American….
Continue ReadingSuggested Reading—Medical Price Fixing
The Washington Monthly recently published a fascinating story-fascinating in the way of horror movies. Called “The shadowy cartel of doctors that controls Medicare,” it’s about how medical provider fees are determined. Author Haley Sweetland Edwards traces the secretive process to reach the inevitable conclusion that, essentially, the value of an MRI, a heart stent, surgical….
Continue ReadingCongress Is Still Pondering What to Do About Compounding Pharmacies
First there was the deadly outbreak of meningitis last year, and another rash of infections (here and here ) within a couple of months earlier this year, and Congress continues to talk seriously about better oversight of the compounding pharmacies that make potentially dangerous drugs. Talk, yes; do … not so much. Federal legislators, as….
Continue ReadingJenny McCarthy Gets a Wider Audience for Her Misinformed Ideas About Vaccinations
Dr. Oz and his fuzzy-science peers will have more company later this year. Jenny McCarthy will be joining “The View,” the afternoon talk show that often deals with topical issues, and thinking people are wondering how long it will take before she spreads her contagious misinformation. McCarthy, as described by The Daily Beast, is a….
Continue ReadingSkewed Data Misleads About the Success Rate of Fertility Treatments
Few health issues are as frustrating as the inability to conceive a baby, especially when the prospective parents are otherwise medically sound. Couples keen to be parents and who need help sometimes turn to fertility centers. A new study casts a shadow over what some clinics claim are their success rates. As reported by Reuters,….
Continue ReadingBenicar Users Are at Risk of Serious Intestinal Side Effects
About 10.6 million prescriptions of Benicar and similar drugs to treat high blood pressure were dispensed last year. Earlier this month, the FDA issued a warning about Benicar, Azor, Tribenzor and their generic versions concerning intestinal side effects that can be severe enough to send patients to the hospital. The active ingredient in the drug,….
Continue ReadingLawmaker Who Wrote Legislation to Limit Malpractice Damages Now Says It’s Bad Law
In 1975, the California Legislature passed the Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA). It was an effort to address what some people deemed a malpractice insurance “crisis” that was boosting insurance premiums and driving doctors out of the state. The solution to the perceived-or even nonexistent-problem, as recounted by Los Angeles Times business columnist Michael….
Continue ReadingManufacturer Knew Vaginal Mesh Product Wasn’t Fit for Human Use
Ever since it came on the market, vaginal mesh has proved problematic and has become the subject of thousands of lawsuits. Used surgically to treat prolapsed pelvic organs (those that have dropped out of normal position) and urinary incontinence, mesh products were marketed to doctors as an easier way to do a surgery that had….
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