bioethics.net News Update - Health Care Issues

Charity: millions of children die from treatable illnesses

Wed, 07 May 2008 11:32:10 EDT

Save the Children reports that nearly 10 million children under the age of 5 die worldwide each year from treatable illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia. Most these deaths occur in the developing world.

Major city hospitals lack surge capacity

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:17:54 EDT

A House committee investigation reports that trauma centers in seven studied cities don't have the capacity to handle the influx of patients from a terrorist attack. The chair of the committee called the report "truly alarming."

Experts: pandemic flu still a threat

Tue, 06 May 2008 11:14:00 EDT

The head of the WHO's influenza program says the threat of a flu pandemic is "not diminished" and countries need to work faster toward becoming prepared.

Health care costs starting to squeeze the insured

Sun, 04 May 2008 09:54:18 EDT

With incomes stagnating and costs rising, more people are having trouble paying premiums and co-pays.

Does "best" actually mean cheapest?

Fri, 02 May 2008 12:00:17 EDT

Many doctors have complained that the physician rating systems used by health plans emphasize cost over quality. A new voluntary system might bring the two sides closer to a consensus.

Marrying for health care

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:22:48 EDT

A survey sponsored by the Kaiser Family Foundation reports that seven percent of Americans said they or someone in their household got married for healthcare benefits last year.

Medical tourism as economic strategy

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

South Korea is looking to become the hub of Asian medical tourism. The country's president recently said that medical tourism "is emerging as a new future-oriented industrial sector."

Wealth associated with lower risk of stroke

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 11:29:46 EDT

A study in the journal Stroke reports that people with greater wealth are less likely to have a stroke, even after controlling for factors such as obesity and smoking.

Study: Medicare drug benefit effect "mixed"

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:12:34 EDT

A study in JAMA reports that the Medicare prescription drug benefit does seem to have helped some seniors more easily afford their drugs. But the sickest seniors are still struggling.

Seeking recourse for military medical errors

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:10:32 EDT

A series of recent military medical errors has prompted a push to overturn a rule that forbids active duty service members from suing for malpractice.

Life expectancy declining in some parts of US

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:00:00 EDT

A study in PLoS reports that men and women in pockets of the Midwest and South are seeing life expectancy declines. One of the study's authors says this type of decline is unheard of in other developed countries.

Japan to tax companies with too many overweight workers

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:13:39 EDT

The government is requiring employers to cut the number of overweight workers and dependents 10 percent by 2012, and 25 percent by 2015. If companies miss their targets, they'll be forced to pay extra into a fund for senior citizen care.

Report: health system not ready for elderly boomers

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:10:58 EDT

You name it and an Institute of Medicine committee reports that the nation probably doesn't have enough of it to care for the health needs of the oncoming wave of elderly baby boomers.

MA struggles to make universal care plan work

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 08:38:20 EDT

The cost of covering those below the poverty line has exceeded projections by almost 20 percent.

Ounce of prevention often worth just a little cure

Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:50:17 EDT

Contrary to the comments made by many politicians, prevention often costs more than simply treating people for diseases as they arise.