Monthly Archives: October 2008

The Texas Supreme Court may take the unusual step of reconsidering one of its decisions. It involves a workers’ compensation case. The resolution of the case has enraged the plaintiff’s lawyers, defense lawyers, Republicans and Democrats. » E-Mail This     » … Continue reading →

More than 35,000 men taking part in a study to see if vitamin E or selenium can help prevent prostate cancer are being advised to stop taking the supplements. Researchers say they’ve ended that part of the study because a … Continue reading →

Blood banks store freshly donated blood for up to six weeks before it is considered outdated and discarded. But patients who receive transfusions of blood older than two or three weeks may suffer adverse effects, studies suggest. » E-Mail This     … Continue reading →

Writer Jonathan Rauch argues that if Democrats hope for historic breakthroughs on issues such as health care and climate change, then they should vote for John McCain. In his article “What’s a Perverse Voter To Do?” he says one-party rule … Continue reading →

The American Medical Association says doctors shouldn’t prescribe placebos because the practice undermines trust. But in a new study, about half of the physicians surveyed say they regularly prescribe placebos — and that patients are mostly unaware. » E-Mail This     … Continue reading →

The Personal Genome Project is attempting to find 100,000 volunteers to publish their entire genetic makeup — including their physical traits — online. So far, ten individuals have chosen to share their DNA sequences, medical records, and other personal information … Continue reading →

Merck, one of the country’s biggest pharmaceutical makers, announced Wednesday it is slashing more than 7,000 positions, or 12 percent of its global work force. Those cuts come on top of more than 10,000 jobs that were eliminated in an … Continue reading →

Ireland is having tough budget times. But austerity measures put forth by the ruling party Fianna Fail went too far for some citizens. The government was forced to reverse its proposal that called for cutting health care benefits for seniors. … Continue reading →

Washington could become the second state in the nation to have an assisted suicide law for the terminally ill. The state has an initiative on the November ballot and it is currently ahead in the polls. » E-Mail This     » … Continue reading →

The economy seems to have pushed healthcare right out of the headlines. Trudy Lieberman, head of the graduate journalism program in health and medical reporting at the City University in New York, discusses the healthcare plans of both candidates and … Continue reading →