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Presents news related to health and medicine in the United States and around the world as of January 2000. Issue on the reuse of hospital and clinic instruments despite single-use designation in Florida; World Health Organization's study on reassessing ways to reduce maternal mortality; Overview of the United Nations Children's Fund report `After the Fall: The Human Impact of Ten Years of Transition.'

Reports developments on medical information around the world. Famine in Africa; Outbreak of measles in New York; Identification of heart rhythm through supercomputers.

Presents an interview with health commissioner Mark R. Chassin on medical care in New York. Profile of Chassin; Reasons for lack of access to health insurance; Process of making hospital care more efficient.

Reports global developments related to medicine as of November 1994. Compensation for patients contracted with hepatitis C from contaminated blood in Great Britain; Investigations on HIV infections in Germany; Approval of assisted suicide measure by voters in Oregon.

Reports developments on various issues related to medicine as of January 1992. Use of gene therapy to treat patients with life threatening diseases in Great Britain; Prevalence of family violence in the United States; Information on HIV infected people in Sri Lanka.

The article reports that the three U.S. home health companies including Amedisys Inc, LHC Group Inc, and Gentiva Health Services Inc distorted their care for generating more revenues.

The article reports an increase in pressure in the U.S. for tighter restrictions on access to the anaesthetic propofol. The pressure was prompted by concerns on a growth in the number of healthcare professionals who are becoming addicted to the anaesthetic. Lethal levels of the drug was discovered in singer Michael Jackson's body. A warning was issued by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists in July 2009 on the abuse of the drug by anesthesia professionals and other health care providers.

The article reports that U.S. President Barack Obama overturned a funding ban on international family-planning organizations that support a woman's right to abortion. The ban restricted these agencies from receiving foreign aid from the Agency for International Development. The President is quoted concerning the executive order and the Supreme Court's decision in the Roe v. Wade case. Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Population Action International are mentioned.

The article reports that the medical records of the 2008 U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama show that McCain has had multiple melanomas and that Obama uses nicotine replacement therapy. The records also show that McCain had problems with his joints. Obama's doctor reports that he is in excellent health.

The article reports on the pharmaceutical company Merck & Co.'s decision to pay $58 million in a settlement related to its rofecoxib (Vioxx) advertising. The company agreed to the settlement to settle allegations that its advertising played down potential health risks associated with the drug and was deceptive to the public. The settlement, which is the largest in a multi state consumer protection case involving drugs, will end investigations into the advertising that were being conducted in 29 U.S. states.

The article reports on a decline in the number of walk in health clinics that are being opened in retail stores the United States in 2008. A discussion of financial problems which the clinics have seen as a result of slow return on their investments, and as a result of a lack of utilization by U.S. consumers, is presented. A slowing of expansion plans which has been seen at MinuteClinics, TakeCare and Little Clinic, the three major chains which operate the clinics, is examined. A discussion of the reasons behind the popularity of the clinics prior to 2008 is offered.

Presents medical-related news for the week of May 3, 2003. Patients with end stage ischaemic heart failure who had their own bone marrow injected into sites of myocardial ischaemia; Researchers from the United States and Australia who have found that deciduous teeth have robust stem cells in their dental pulp; Study that says that Alzheimer's disease can be fairly accurately diagnosed through measurement of concentrations in cerobrospinal fluid of two proteins associated with the illness; Announcement of an initiative to reduce HIV infections by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Federal government think tank in Australia that recommended that the state compensate doctors for administrative red tape; Helpline that has been established in England for people to report suspected adverse reactions to a drug; Announcement of lay people appointed to the General Medical Council; Decision of the French government to reduce the amount of subsidy it gives to drugs of only moderate medical usefulness.

Offers medical news briefs for May 18, 2002. Review of the smallpox vaccination policy in the United States; Global campaign by the World Health Organization to eliminate lymphatic filariasis; Consideration of a proposal to tighten drug patent law in the U.S.; Indication that the detention policy for refugees in Australia puts their health at risk; Others.

Examines the relationship between smoking and mental illness in the United States. Prevalence of psychiatric disorders among smokers; Discussion on the market strategies employed by tobacco manufacturer; Comparison between the anxiety disorder of heavy and non- smoker adolescents.

Focuses on the high cost of prescription drugs for the aged in the United States (US). Actions taken by US President Bill Clinton to address the problem; Increase in the annual spending on medicines in the US; Legislative bills relating to Medicare and prescription drug coverage in the country.

Reports that the Colorado Board of Education passed a resolution which advised against the use of psychotropic drugs to deal with disruptive and problem behavior in children. Advice for teachers regarding problem behavior in schools; Study on the use of psychotropic drugs in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; Alleged relationship between school violence and psychotropic drug use.

Focuses on the decision of the New York Court of Appeals on the case of a woman refusing medical treatment. Objection of the patient towards blood transfusion for religious reasons; Basis of the Supreme Court decision to override the right of the patient to refuse treatment; Criticisms on the failure of the Supreme Court to conduct a hearing.

Comments on domestic violence in the United States and the efforts made to combat this threat to women's health. Factors behind the rise of aggression and violence in the American society; Growth in authority of each person's `inner policeman' as the only permanent solution.

Reports on the start of a vaccination program against raccoon rabies in the United States. Cooperation of the Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine with the New York State in arranging an air drop of baits containing vaccinia-rabies glycoprotein; Approval of the vaccine by the US Department of Agriculture.

Reports on the anti-abortion malpractice program of Life Dynamics, a non-profit educational organization based in Denton, Texas. Organization founder Mark Crutcher; Increased number of abortion malpractice lawsuits in the United States; Comment from Pamela Maraldo, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

Reports on the Senate Special Committee on Aging's hearing on the issue of health care fraud. Minimal chances for detection of the crime; Nature of majority of the fraud cases; Financial cost of health care fraud.

Reports the approval of blood test for prostatic cancer by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. Accuracy of the combined blood test and rectal examination; Essentiality of conducting the tests; Opposition of the test by urologist.

Reports the call of the American Hospital Association for uniform system of hospital billing in the United States. Reason for the health reform proposal; Improvement of relationships between doctors and hospital staff; Information on the 'medical arm race' concept.

Reports the issuance of guidelines recommending the voluntary testing for HIV and hepatitis B virus among doctors by the Federal Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. Prohibition of doctors and dentists to perform invasive procedures; Recommendation of special examination for health care workers with AIDS; Reasons for issuing the guidelines.

The article reports on a letter sent by the U.S. retail chain Walmart to President Barack Obama supporting a change in the law that would require employers to provide healthcare insurance to their workers. The letter was signed by several individuals, including chief executive Mike Duke, Andrew Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, and John Podesta of the Center for American Progress. The move by Walmart was criticized by Neil Trautwein, vice president of the National Retail Federation.

The article reports on the possibility that the actual number of people around the world that have been infected with the A/H1N1 flu virus could be much higher than official figures. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 12,954 cases of swine influenza had been confirmed in 46 countries and 92 people had died from the virus. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that the country has had 6,764 swine flu cases. A potential situation has been outlined by WHO director general Margaret Chan.

The article reports on a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision which was reached in 2008. In the decision the court voted to bar a lawsuit in a state court brought by the widow of a man injured by a cardiac catheter that had been made by Medtronic and had been approved for sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). With the decision the court reaffirmed the FDA premarket approval process which balances patient risks and benefits. The Medical Device Amendments of 1976 to the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, which gave the FDA the responsibility of overseeing the safety of medical devices, is discussed.

The article reports on a plan to reform health care in the U.S. which was announced by U.S. presidential candidate Hilary Clinton in August of 2007. Clinton's plan would require insurers to provide coverage for anyone who applied and would bar companies for charging people who have greater health care costs more for their premiums. The plan was announced at an annual convention of the American Association of Retired Persons, and following the announcement Clinton vowed to accomplish her reformation plan in her first term in office if she is elected.

The article reports on the 2007 resolution of a class action lawsuit brought by 900,000 doctors against Blue Cross Blue Shield, the largest health insurance company in the United States. The lawsuit, which was filed in the Southern District of Florida in Miami in May of 2003, alleged that numerous insurance plans run by Blue Cross Blue Shield, which covered 77 million patients had conspired in a scheme to defraud doctors in violation of the 1970 federal Racketeer Influence and Corrupt Organization Act.

The article discusses a study in medical journal Pediatric Transplantation which shows that young transplant recipients who lose their insurance coverage are nine times more likely to die than those with insurance. The cost of immunosuppressive drugs is very high, and even families that have insurance may struggle with co-payments. Medicare pays for most organ transplants in the U.S., but coverage of immunosuppressants ends 36 to 44 months after surgery. As a result of these factors many young organ recipients stop taking their medication, which leads to organ rejection, and maybe death.

This article reports on United States federal judge Jack Weinstein's ruling that people who smoked "light" cigarettes, thinking that they were less harmful than ordinary ones, can pursue their claim of fraud as a class action suit. The lawsuit was filed against Philip Morris, R. J. Reynolds, Lorillard Tobacco, British American Tobacco and others.

The article reports on the August 2006 Escherichia coli (E coli) outbreak in the U.S., causing sickness in 171 people in nearly half of the states. Officials have determined a link with raw spinach, primarily from Salinas Valley (California) crops which had been contaminated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautioned against the consumption of raw spinach in light of the outbreak, and growers have responded as well.

The author reports that a study from the U.S. Institute of Medicine has determined that the symptoms of thousands of veterans of the Gulf War do not constitute a syndrome. The committee found that the veterans experience a wide variety of symptoms, but because they vary among individuals, they do not suggest a syndrome unique to the veterans.

This article reports that an international group of prominent cardiologists have called for the non-invasive screening for heart disease of all U.S. asymptomatic men aged 45-75 and women aged 55-75. The Screening For Heart Attack Prevention And Education task force believes that screenings should be done to measure coronary artery calcium, with computed tomography scan, and carotid intima media thickness and plaque, using carotid ultrasonography.

The author describes a leading article in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" which advises doctors to shun gifts from pharmaceutical companies, who spend more than $20 billion a year on advertising. Evidence suggests that the size of the gift doesn't matter in influencing doctor behavior, but the gift-giving itself. The study makes rigid recommendations for physician behavior, including: banning all gifts; prohibiting free samples; and prohibiting drug makers from financing medical education.

The United States Supreme court upheld Oregon's 1997 Death with Dignity Act in a 6-3 decision. Dissenters, chief justice John Roberts and judges Anthony Scalia and Clarence Thomas, voted against physician-assisted suicide for terminally ill people. Background is provided on the Gonzales versus Oregon case and the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

The article discusses the Medicare prescription drug plan for senior citizens in the United States. Confusion about the drug benefit comes from trying to compare various plans and balance risk with monthly premiums. Information in the official handbook, "Medicare & You 2006," is provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

Focuses on criticism of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush's response to Hurricane Katrina. Call for an inquiry into the government and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's slow response to Katrina by former President Bill Clinton and Senator Bill Frist; Claim that the breaches in levies surrounding New Orleans, which lead to the flooding of 80% of the city, was not anticipated; Squalor and deprivation experienced by refugees in the Superdome for five days before being evacuated.

Focuses on the legal aspects of the Terri Schiavo case in the U.S. Report that the U.S. Supreme Court refused an emergency appeal to Schiavo's parents, who sought to keep their daughter alive on life support despite her persistent vegetative state; Refusal of Florida state judges to order the continuation of Schiavo's life support; Involvement of the U.S. Congress and President George W. Bush in efforts to block the removal of Schiavo's life support; Comments on the political and ethical aspects of the Schiavo case.

Looks at policies of the U.S. government related to the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case in Florida. Details of the case, in which the family of a woman in a persistent vegetative state disagree on the removal of life support; Actions of the U.S. Congress to review Schiavo's civil rights and the legal basis for sustaining her life support systems; Background of the case, including long-term litigation between Schiavo's husband, Michael, and her parents, Bob and Mary Schindler; Comments of U.S. President George W. Bush on the legal ramifications of the Schiavo case; Efforts of pro-life activists to influence the outcome of the case.

Reports that the animosity between American physicians and medical malpractice lawyers has reached new lows in the United States. Defeat of a motion at the American Medical Association which would have refused treatment to malpractice lawyers, their families and employees except in emergencies; Doctors who are angry over the cost of malpractice insurance; Dr. Rick Miller from New Hampshire who says his malpractice insurance fees are larger than his income although he has never been sued; Call for lawmakers to enact some reforms to help decrease the insurance premiums.

Reports that an appeal court upheld Oregon's assisted suicide law for mentally competent, terminally ill patients. Statement that the United States attorney general John Ashcroft cannot sanction or hold doctors criminally liable for prescribing but not administering overdoses under the Death With Dignity Act; Ruling that the attorney general may not exercise control over an area of law traditionally reserved for state authority, such as medical care.

Discusses the widespread flu epidemic in the United States this year. Shortage of influenza vaccine; Analysis on how states were affected; Reasons for vaccine shortages; Use of a newer type vaccine known as FluMist, a nasal spray made by Medimmune-Wyeth; 42 children's deaths in the U.S. from influenza.

Reports that a special session of the Florida legislature has authorised Governor Jeb Bush to order a feeding tube to be reinserted in Terri Schiavo, who has been in a persistent vegetative state since a cardiac arrest in 1990. Plans by Schiavo's husband, Michael, to challenge in court the constitutionality of the law; Resignation of Schiavo's primary care physician, Victor Gambone, from the case; Reactions of legal scholars and other doctors to the law; Involvement of anti-abortion activist Randall Terry in the campaign to continue to keep Schiavo alive.

Examines measures in the United States to permit the importation of cheaper drugs. House of Representatives bill; Indecision in the Senate; Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America which has been lobbying against the bill; Florida crackdown on alleged fake drug ring.

Discusses how Schering-Plough, of Kenilwoth, New Jersey, is facing indictment on a number of charges listed in a letter from the U.S. Attorney's office. Charges which include giving financial grants and other items of value to doctors and other customers, marketing drugs for unapproved uses and submitting false drug prices to the government so that Medicaid paid too much for the company's products; Additional charges of document destruction and obstruction of justice.

James Kopp, 48, was found guilty on March 18, 2003 of second degree murder in the shooting of Dr. Barnett Slepian, a New York state obstetrician. Dr. Slepian was the last of seven people killed in attacks on abortion clinics and their staff from 1993 to 1998. Kopp admitted shooting Slepian in his suburban home near Buffalo, New York, on October 23, 1998. Kopp waived his right to a trial by jury and was convicted by Erie county judge Michael D'Amico in an unusual one day bench trial.

Reports that United States President George W. Bush proposed Medicare reform during a speech at an American Medical Association meeting in March 2003. Details of an option for a higher level of coverage in an enhanced form of Medicare; Payment under the Medicare system; Outlook for prescription drug coverage.