Medicine.org - Health Law and Legislation

40,000 Patients Potentially Exposed to Hepatitis, HIV due to Clinic's Re-Use of Syringes in Unsafe Injection Practices

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 14:42:26 -0500

About 40,000 patients of the Endoscopy Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas are being urged to get tested for bloodborne diseases like hepatitis and HIV. It is reported that anesthesiologists exposed patients to infection by using multiple-dose vials of medications and re-using syringes between individuals.

Patients were exposed to these unsafe injections between March 2004 and January 2008. So far, doctors have found six acute cases of hepatitis C in patients from the center.

Avandia: Needless Panic?

Fri, 25 May 2007 16:54:54 -0400

The New England of Journal recently published a scathing report on the adverse cardiovascular effects of Avandia. Avandia has been used since 1999 to treat diabetes II, and was approved by the FDA with the knowledge that minimal cardiovascular effects existed, but not more than with any other diabetic drug which existed. However, the risk for people with congestive heart failure was slightly higher.

Prestigious National Institute Advocates Safe Cigarettes

Fri, 25 May 2007 16:50:37 -0400

This past September, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published the report Clearing the Smoke: Assessing the Science Base for Tobacco Harm Reduction.,1 The report's leading conclusion is that tobacco products of reduced risk, and especially less hazardous cigarettes, are within technical reach and should be officially endorsed and regulated. The report speaks of unparalleled public health opportunities in tobacco harm reduction and in the abatement of the awesome morbidity and premature mortality of more than 1 billion smokers worldwide.1(p23)

States Balk at Mandating Vaccine for Cancer

Sun, 20 May 2007 17:13:33 -0400

Gardisil was approved in August 2006 as a vaccine to protect against cervical cancer caused by HPV. The virus causes 70% of cervical cancers; therefore, the announcement of a vaccine to prevent this disease was applauded by many. Ten women a year die of cervical cancer, and one in four women in America are exposed to the HPV virus. Men can be carriers of the virus.

However, the religious right saw this vaccine as an approval for pre-marriage sexual activity, and has lobbied heavily against it. Therefore, although 23 states have laws pending a mandated vaccination, only one state has approved it: Virginia. Texas' Governor initially executed an order, but the Legislators, under pressure from the Religious lobbiest, enacted a law to forbid a mandate.

Proposed legislation would force restaurants to list nutritional information on menus

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 21:19:21 -0400

The Center for Science in the Public Interest is pushing for legislation that would force restaurants to list nutritional information on menus.

Without this information, restaurant patrons have no idea what they are eating. The oversized portions served at many U.S. restaurants (which can exceed daily recommended calorie and fat intake) prompt over-eating, helping to fuel obesity and heart disease.

A Comparative Analysis of Long Term Care in Other Countries

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 18:04:10 -0400

Long Term Care in America can be improved through looking at the processes used in other countries, and determining how effective those processes are in relation to established outcomes. Four countries were chosen for comparison: England, Germany, Japan and Australia.

• England: England is very similar to the United States, as it relies on regulation to impose national standards on nursing homes. Localities may or may not provide additional regulations.

Sleep-Driving Behavior: a Dangerous Behavior You May Experience

Fri, 16 Mar 2007 12:51:24 -0400

In 2006, Senator Kennedy was cited for reckless driving. Officers at the arrest cite stated Kennedy appeared disoriented. Kennedy reported that he had taken a sleeping pill the night before, didn't realize he was even driving, and checked himself into a rehab facility.

Smoking: What our Federal Government Has to Say

Mon, 15 Jan 2007 20:56:59 -0500

Smoking cigarettes is never good. Most of us know that fact; however, from time to time it's healthy to review what the Federal Government has to say.

Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and has negative impacts on people at all stages of life. It harms unborn babies, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and seniors. The list of diseases caused by smoking has been expanded to include abdominal aortic aneurysm, acute myeloid leukemia, cataract, cervical cancer, kidney cancer, pancreatic cancer, pneumonia, periodontitis, and stomach cancer. These are in addition to diseases previously known to be caused by smoking, including bladder, esophageal, laryngeal, lung, oral, and throat cancers, chronic lung diseases, coronary heart and cardiovascular diseases, as well as reproductive effects and sudden infant death syndrome.

Should states be prevented from enacting public health or consumer protections that are more stringent than federal standards?

Sat, 22 Jul 2006 02:02:50 -0400

Should House Republicans be pushing new legislation that could wipe out the ability of states to ban or strictly limit the use of pesticides and toxic industrial chemicals that can jeopardize human health?

Hospital patients should expect to suffer one adverse drug event (due to human error) every day they remain hospitalized

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 22:26:40 -0400

Although the first report by the Institute for Health was released in 1999, stating that medical errors were responsible for as many as 98,000 deaths each year, when you read the statistics from the 2006 report, you will be shocked to learn that hospital patients should still expect to suffer one adverse drug event (due to human error) every day they remain hospitalized. Not very comforting... Perhaps legislation is needed to ensure (at the very least) that prescriptions are PRINTED legibly.

Bush's first veto shoots down embryonic stem cell funding that could benefit Alzheimer's, Parkinsons, Diabetes & Spinal Injury

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 10:46:35 -0400

On July 19th 2006, President Bush issued the first veto of his five-year-old administration, rejecting Congress' attempt to lift funding restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research.

Even though both the Republican-controlled House and Senate passed the stem-cell legislation by comfortable margins, they did not have the two-thirds majority required to override the veto.

Toxics Legislated Out Of North Carolina Schools

Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:35:06 -0400

Children are about to gain strong protections from pesticides, mercury, diesel fumes, arsenic-treated wood, mold and mildew at North Carolina’s public schools.

A new bill titled the “School Children’s Health Act” has passed the House and Senate and has been sent to the Governor for his signature. The bill uses common-sense, low-cost, and even cost-savings measures to reduce student and staff exposure to hazardous contaminants in school buildings.

Alaska Supreme Court Strikes Down Forced Psychiatric Drugging Procedures

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 19:02:33 -0400

In what has been characterized as a resounding affirmation of personal liberty and freedom, the Alaska Supreme Court issued its long-awaited decision in Myers v. Alaska Psychiatric Institute on June 30, 2006.

May Declared Toxic Injury Awareness Month in Alaska

Thu, 29 Jun 2006 17:34:06 -0400

Governor Frank Murkowski has proclaimed May as Toxic Injury Awareness month in the state of Alaska.

Toxic Injury has many other names, among them: Environmental Illness, Chemical Sensitivity, Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, and Toxicant Induced Loss of Tolerance. It affects as much as 30 percent of the population, and approximately 6 percent of the population is disabled by the condition and unable to shop, work, obtain healthcare or live normally due to severe reactions to everyday chemicals such as:

Consumer Action Can Influence Environmental Issues And Legislation

Thu, 22 Jun 2006 17:16:06 -0400

People concerned about environmental issues may wonder if there is any way to really make a difference. Well, there's good news and there's bad news.

The good news is that on many fronts, people have spoken up and it has made a difference. Take a look at the list below, representing campaigns that have made a difference just from one grass-roots organizing group, the Organic Consumers Association (OCA).