All posts tagged: health care

The Return of Trump—VI | Yuri Slezkine, Wesley Lowery, Carolina A. Miranda, Nitin K. Ahuja, Susan Neiman

The Return of Trump—VI | Yuri Slezkine, Wesley Lowery, Carolina A. Miranda, Nitin K. Ahuja, Susan Neiman

Published by skeptic

Yuri Slezkine • Wesley Lowery • Carolina A. Miranda • Nitin K. Ahuja • Susan Neiman Yuri Slezkine In 1827 Samuel Pickwick, Esq., and three members of his club arrived in Eatanswill to witness an election. The Pickwickians had no sooner dismounted from the roof of the coach than they were surrounded by a cheering mob. “Slumkey for ever!” roared the honest and independent. “Slumkey for ever!” echoed Mr. Pickwick, taking off his hat. “No Fizkin!” roared the crowd. “Certainly not!” shouted Mr. Pickwick. “Hurrah!” And then there was another roaring, like that of a whole menagerie when the elephant has rung the bell for the cold meat. “Who is Slumkey?” whispered Mr. Tupman. “I don’t know,” replied Mr. Pickwick, in the same tone. “Hush. Don’t ask any questions. It’s always best on these occasions to do what the mob do.”  “But suppose there are two mobs?” suggested Mr. Snodgrass. “Shout with the largest,” replied Mr. Pickwick. The citizens of Eatanswill were, in the matter of political persuasion, divided into the Blues and the Buffs. …

The Return of Trump—IV | Paisley Currah, Trevor Jackson, Kim Phillips-Fein, Ian Frazier, Adam Gaffney, Madeleine Schwartz

The Return of Trump—IV | Paisley Currah, Trevor Jackson, Kim Phillips-Fein, Ian Frazier, Adam Gaffney, Madeleine Schwartz

Published by skeptic

Paisley Currah • Trevor Jackson • Kim Phillips-Fein • Ian Frazier • Adam Gaffney • Madeleine Schwartz Paisley Currah This is what Donald Trump could do to transgender people during his second presidency: discharge all trans service people from the military; impose a nationwide ban on medical care for trans youth; prevent Medicaid and Medicare from paying for transition-related care even for adults; permit private health providers to exclude transgender-related coverage; ban all trans girls from playing on any girls teams regardless of age, sport, or level of competition; deny federal funding to schools that support youth with gender dysphoria; end all programs at federal agencies that “promote” the concept of gender transition, at any age; and, generally, require all federal agencies to recognize only sex assigned at birth. Parents who support their child’s trans, nonbinary, or gender-nonconforming identity would be prevented from doing so. The Trump campaign even promised to stop anyone under eighteen from “assuming” a gender identity—one’s internal sense of being male, female, neither, or in-between—to which their parents do not consent. …

I Had A Traumatic Birth Experience. Here’s What I Wish I Had Known.

I Had A Traumatic Birth Experience. Here’s What I Wish I Had Known.

Published by skeptic

Throughout my pregnancy, I fantasised about the “golden hour” — the first hour after birth — that I’d share with my baby when he arrived. I pictured myself smelling his head, stroking his tiny back and whispering “Happy birthday” and “I love you” as I gently encouraged him to latch and begin breastfeeding. But because I spiked a fever during labour, hospital policy required my son to go directly to the NICU for a precautionary stay where they’d monitor him for signs of infection. Instead of a golden hour, I got just a few precious minutes before a nurse pried his little fingers from my hospital gown and whisked him away. That was just one moment among many that added up to a traumatic birth experience. There was the nurse who tied the band of a foetus heart-rate monitor so tightly around my belly I could barely breathe. Another rolled her eyes and tossed a barf bag at me when I pleaded with her to raise the head of my bed before I threw up. …

A call for global policy action – POLITICO

A call for global policy action – POLITICO

Published by skeptic

References 1. Momtazmanesh S, Moghaddam SS, Ghamari S-H, et al. 2023. Global burden of chronic respiratory diseases and risk factors, 1990-2019: an update from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. eClinicalMedicine 59: 101936 2. Global Asthma Network. 2022. The Global Asthma Report. The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease 26(Supp 1): 1-104 3. Haughney J, Winders TA, Holmes S, et al. 2020. Global quality standard for identification and management of severe asthma. Advances in Therapy 37(9): 3645-59 4. Jo EJ, Kim MY, Kim SH, et al. 2020. Implementation of asthma management guidelines and possible barriers in Korea. Journal of Korean Medical Science 35(12): e72 5. Nunes C, Pereira AM, Morais-Almeida M. 2017. Asthma costs and social impact. Asthma Research and Practice 3: 1 6. Song HJ, Blake KV, Wilson DL, et al. 2020. Medical costs and productivity loss due to mild, moderate, and severe asthma in the United States. Journal of Asthma and Allergy 13: 545-55 7. Hekking PW, Wener RR, Amelink M, et al. 2015. The prevalence of severe refractory asthma. Journal …

Is Your Doctor Gaslighting You? Here Are 5 Signs.

Is Your Doctor Gaslighting You? Here Are 5 Signs.

Published by skeptic

Gaslighting, the term used when someone in power manipulates another person to doubt their own judgment, can manifest in medical settings. “Medical gaslighting involves patients’ symptoms and lived experiences being dismissed by medical providers and explained away with incorrect diagnoses,” said Alyssa Burgart, a physician, bioethicist and clinical director at Stanford School of Medicine. “This can mean questions, tests and diagnoses that fit a biased pattern, rather than addressing the patient’s actual symptoms.” Patients who are gaslit in clinical settings often experience delays with their medical treatment, missed diagnoses, and overall worsened health outcomes. This disproportionately affects women and people of colour, who may experience greater distrust as a result. Medical gaslighting can be so subtle that you may not even notice it happening as you are seeking care. Here, we spoke to experts about the subtle signs of medical gaslighting and what to do if you suspect it’s happening to you: Your provider is not listening to you or often interrupts you. If your provider doesn’t listen to your medical concerns and constantly interrupts …

After annus horribilis, finally some good news – POLITICO

After annus horribilis, finally some good news – POLITICO

Published by skeptic

Charles — who only ascended to the throne after the death of his mother in 2022 — first sought treatment for an enlarged prostate in January, with Buckingham Palace announcing the following month that cancer had been detected. In the first substantive update on his health since then, Buckingham Palace said Friday that Charles’ treatment isn’t over, but that doctors are “very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the King’s continued recovery.” The announcement, carefully timed for the 6 p.m. news bulletins, will have been greeted with relief by a British public — not to mention a Westminster bubble — which has grown wearily accustomed to alarming news from the famously-secretive Buckingham Palace. While Charles’ role is largely ceremonial, by convention the king does play a significant role in the smooth functioning of the British state. He signs acts of parliament into law and hosts gatherings of the Privy Council. He also meets the prime minister once a week to provide something of a sounding board away from the sound …

Strong intellectual property is critical to competitive edge – POLITICO

Strong intellectual property is critical to competitive edge – POLITICO

Published by skeptic

It is encouraging to see that the European Commission has charged former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi to prepare a report on Europe’s declining competitiveness, particularly in relation to the U.S. and China, and provide options on how to reverse the trend. As an industry, we echo the call by European heads of state for a new European Competitiveness Deal. As an industry, we echo the call by European heads of state for a new European Competitiveness Deal. Considering the sector contributes more to the positive EU trade balance than any other, a dedicated health and life sciences strategy should be an integral part of the EU’s industrial strategy. Such a move would send a hugely positive and much-needed signal to global investors that Europe wants to compete for research, development and manufacturing investment. It could turn around Europe’s fortunes that have seen not only a 25 percent drop in Europe’s global share of R&D investment in the past two decades, but also a steady decline in its clinical trial activity. China and the U.S. now …

I’m not dying, look at me pumping iron – POLITICO

I’m not dying, look at me pumping iron – POLITICO

Published by skeptic

The Chechen leader — an ally of Russian President and combat sports fanatic Vladimir Putin — added: “Remember, taking care of your health is an investment in the future, and consistency and perseverance will lead you to success, both in sports and in life.” Earlier Monday, Novaya Gazeta Europe, a Latvian-based independent Russian newspaper reported that Kadyrov was diagnosed with pancreatic necrosis in January 2019, prompting Moscow to look for his successor. “Kadyrov had been hospitalized last year with acute pulmonary insufficiency after overdosing on a preoperative sedative,” the outlet reported, citing sources with knowledge of the matter. Kadyrov is the head of the majority-Muslim Chechen Republic in Russia and is considered one of Putin’s most prominent allies in his all-out war on Ukraine. P.S. If anyone can let POLITICO know whether Kadyrov’s backing track conforms to Chechnya’s strict rules on musical beats, please get in touch. Source link

Open Strategic Autonomy for plasma therapies in the EU – POLITICO

Open Strategic Autonomy for plasma therapies in the EU – POLITICO

Published by skeptic

There is broad political consensus that a prosperous and stable Europe depends on the EU’s attainment of open strategic autonomy and improved competitiveness. This consensus has only deepened with recent geopolitical instability and the EU’s determination to be better prepared for future health threats. Achieving these goals relies on the existence of resilient and diversified supply chains, along with a robust and well-performing industrial base. Accordingly, EU institutions, governments and businesses are working to better understand potential vulnerabilities and opportunities in key value chains, and to shape policies to ensure an industrial ecosystem that can deliver on this aspiration. Biotechnology is a core focus, given the crucial role this sector plays in ensuring citizens’ access to critical medicines and technologies. In this context, ensuring a resilient supply of plasma and plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMPs) is a major imperative, recognizing that better solutions are needed at the EU and national level to achieve this. The unique nature of PDMPs — with the starting material coming from donated human blood plasma — requires a thoughtful, tailored and …

In Gaza’s Hospitals | Omar al-Najjar

In Gaza’s Hospitals | Omar al-Najjar

Published by skeptic

I was born in the spring of 1999 in the village of Khuza’a, east of the city of Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip. My family comes from a village called Salama, near Jaffa on the Palestinian coast, from which they were displaced by Zionist forces in 1948. Khuza’a was a place of green fields and flowers, far from the city center and close to the border fence that separates Gaza from Israel. Most of its residents worked in agriculture or made traditional crafts, but our family ensured that us five siblings—three sisters, a brother, and myself—received a good education. We grew up among wars: 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021. The main camp of the Great March of Return—the protest movement violently suppressed by the Israeli army in 2018—was less than 350 feet from our home. Our school was run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Since it, too, was just feet from the fence, our classes would be interrupted for hours, sometimes days, by shelling from tanks and gunfire from the watchtowers. …