Andy Jurtschenko told his children that he didn’t want to be a burden on them. But after he suffered brain damage during a heart transplant at a New Jersey hospital, his medical team deflected their request for a DNR. More
The agency, whose oversight of opioid safety has largely eluded scrutiny, did not improve flawed programs designed to reduce addiction and overdoses, documents show.
Partners HealthCare, the largest healthcare provider in Massachusetts, has been criticised for spending an estimated $100m to “rebrand” itself as Mass General Brigham. More
The Food and Drug Administration continues to file thousands of reports of patients’ deaths related to medical devices through a reporting system that keeps the safety data out of the public eye. More
Are hospitals expanding to the United Arab Emirates as part of their humanitarian mission? Or are they "looking for mission where the money is"? More
A grieving family in Wayne County who lost everything in a fire, including their 4-year old son, got an unexpected surprise in the mail on the day they took the little boy off of life support. More
Observers say move into wealthy emirate at odds with Clinic's humanitarian charge, invites ethical challenges More
Much of what we accept as legal in medical billing would be regarded as fraud in any other sector. I have been circling around this conclusion for this past five years, as I’ve listened to patients’ stories while covering health care as a journalist and author. Now, after a summer of firsthand experience — my husband was in a bike crash in July — it’s time to call out this fact head-on. Many of the Democratic candidates are talking about practical fixes for our high-priced health care system, and some legislated or regulated solutions to the maddening world of medical billing would be welcome.
A National Institutes of Health database, which we’re making public for the first time, shows that researchers have reported more than 8,000 “significant” financial conflicts, potentially influencing their work. More
The U.S. is approving new drugs so fast that companies are now preparing for a green light months in advance of the scheduled decision date, a pace that’s helping patients with rare or untreatable diseases but raising alarm among consumer advocates. More
Some policymakers argue that moving to single payer health care will "kill jobs." But is that a reason to stick with the status quo?
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Since at least the 1970s, the regulatory agency downplayed health concerns about talc in powders and cosmetics, deferring again and again to manufacturers. Only now, as pressure mounts from lawsuits and a Reuters investigation, is the agency stepping up testing. More
Not all in vitro fertilization (IVF) clinics in the United States follow online advertising guidelines, investigators warn. More
Wining and dining aside, it’s all about building trust with doctors More
Often when a new drug or medical process is being considered for a government program, a "public comment" period is opened to get input on the potential impact. But is this input really from the public, or has this process been hijacked by the pharmaceutical industry for its own gain? More
Two months from now we will be in mid-winter, late January. How about four days in warm, sunny West Palm Beach, Florida? All-expenses-paid. How inviting. But how troubling. Once again. An email was sent to journalists this week announcing this junket funded by Bayer, a multinational drug company. More
An email was sent to journalists this week announcing this junket funded by Bayer, a multinational drug company. Bayer markets a number of cardiovascular drugs – and cardiovascular disease is the topic of this Florida fellowship. More
Special interests and congressional inaction doomed efforts to regulate electronic medical records, putting patients at risk. More
As deductibles and co-pays grow, insured patients owe a larger share of their medical bills. More and more are being taken to court. More
Despite the claim that "CDC does not accept commercial support," this agency does indeed have financial ties to industry organizations. A petition from watchdog groups is demanding transparency. More