Subaqua Sternal Rubs

The Dangers of Drug Trials

Carsten — Fri, 17 Mar 2006 17:38:38 +0000

Volunteer speaks of "horror" effects in drug trial (Alternate coverage in German) - "First they began tearing their shirts off complaining of fever, then some screamed out that their heads felt like they were going to explode." And people wonder why almost no medications are "Pregnancy Category A" (meaning that drug trials in pregnant humans have proven the drug safe). What drug company would want to double their liability risk?

By the time you read this, I will be dead

Carsten — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 01:19:21 +0000

By the time you read this, I will be dead - Following the example of Dr. Ticktin by committing suicide to bring attention to a cause, "a retired physician urged the Government yesterday to make assisted suicide legal as she took her life with the help of doctors at a controversial clinic in Switzerland."

We want everything

Carsten — Thu, 26 Jan 2006 01:14:08 +0000

We want everything - "Americans generally want their health-care system to do three things: (1) provide needed care to all people, regardless of income; (2) maintain our freedom to pick doctors and their freedom to recommend the best care for us; and (3) control costs. The trouble is that these laudable goals aren't compatible.

We can have any two of them, but not all three." (via Medpundit)

Oregon assisted suicide law upheld

Carsten — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:38:04 +0000

In a follow-up to previous posts (1, 2): Oregon assisted suicide law upheld - "The Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked the Bush administration's attempt to punish doctors who help terminally ill patients die, protecting Oregon's one-of-a-kind assisted-suicide law."

Court: State can let beaten girl die

Carsten — Wed, 18 Jan 2006 15:04:36 +0000

I feel awful for the family, but is this another Terri Schiavo debate in the making? Court: State can let beaten girl die

Study: U.S. emergency care ailing

Carsten — Wed, 11 Jan 2006 13:58:01 +0000

Study: U.S. emergency care ailing - "The panel found a system that is overcrowded, with access to emergency care declining and with poor capacity to deal with public health or terrorist disasters."

My home state of New York received an overall grade of C+, brought down in part by the D- in the area of medical liability climate…

Study: Free booze benefits homeless alcoholics

Carsten — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 15:03:51 +0000

Study: Free booze benefits homeless alcoholics - "Giving homeless alcoholics a regular supply of booze may improve their health and their behavior, the Canadian Medical Association Journal said in a study published on Tuesday." I wonder how a treatment program to cure them of their disease would compare to perpetuating their condition… Hmm…

Employer-Backed Health Care Is Here to Stay, for Lack of a Better Choice

Carsten — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 23:59:13 +0000

Employer-Backed Health Care Is Here to Stay, for Lack of a Better Choice - "Frustrations with the status quo notwithstanding, the current system of providing insurance to most working Americans through their employers is not likely to disappear, according to policy analysts and consultants in Washington and around the country. That is mainly, they say, because none of the other possibilities, like a government-run plan or some new private-sector solution, have enough support to serve as a replacement."

Court to Hear Oregon Suicide Law Case

Carsten — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:53:44 +0000

Court to Hear Oregon Suicide Law Case - "The Bush administration is challenging Oregon's assisted suicide law, arguing that hastening someone's death is an improper use of medication and thus violates federal drug laws. U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on Oct. 5. Supporters of the assisted suicide law say a favorable high court ruling could lead other states to follow Oregon's lead."

Medical Breakthroughs Will Extend Lives, But at a Cost

Carsten — Tue, 27 Sep 2005 22:09:51 +0000

Medical Breakthroughs Will Extend Lives, But at a Cost - "Emerging biomedical technology may be a double-edged sword, simultaneously resulting in healthier, longer lives while also fueling Medicare spending. And, with the exception of obesity, curing any one disease won't save Medicare money, a new report finds."