— Health news and commentary from around the Web gathered by MedPage Today staff
by
Genevieve Friedman, Opinions Editor, MedPage Today
February 9, 2024
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A report about President Biden’s handling of classified documents raised questions about his mental acuity, including a claim he could not remember the year his son Beau died. “My memory is fine,” Biden snapped back. (CNBC)
Following the report, a Republican House member called on Biden’s cabinet to “explore” removing the president under the 25th amendment. (The Hill)
Black women in the U.S. were six times more likely to be murdered than white women over the past 2 decades. (The Lancet)
More and more states are considering whether to allow medically assisted death. (Axios)
Native Americans have the worst access to the liver transplant system, according to a Washington Post and Markup analysis.
Stress was a central factor driving some teens to drugs and alcohol use, according to new CDC data.
Ohio backed away from its plans to impose restrictions on gender-affirming care for adults. (AP)
After a report detailed a CVS pharmacist who collapsed and died of a heart attack on the job in 2021, the company said it plans to invest in a “positive work environment.” (USA Today, Fox Business)
As Medicare drug-price negotiations get underway, AstraZeneca’s CEO called the government’s first offer “relatively encouraging.” (Endpoints News)
More scientists and physicians are turning their attention to eating disorders in men. (New York Times)
Some doctors are prescribing testosterone for menopause, while others say more research is needed. (STAT)
Real-world data from Europe showed the monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus) to be 70% effective in preventing RSV-related hospitalizations among infants. (Eurosurveillance)
Junior doctors in England are planning to strike for 5 days this month. (Reuters)
Thousands of civilians took shelter in the overwhelmed Mweso Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo amid escalating violence, according to Doctors Without Borders.
According to a federal lawsuit, a woman with a brain bleed was mistakenly arrested for drunk driving and booked into jail in Washington state, where officials mocked her instead of getting her medical attention. (AP)
In Texas, a man who drugged his wife’s drink to induce an abortion has been sentenced to 180 days in jail. (AP)
The House passed a bill that would ban federal health programs from using quality-adjusted life years to determine a product’s value. (Endpoints News)
Federal rules require that states report child care deaths, serious injuries, and abuse, but not all states are complying. (The 19th)
The 2022 closing of Atlanta Medical Center continues to strain other hospitals in the region. (NBC News)
Youth flag football is growing in popularity as concern about brain injuries in tackle football rises. (NBC-KSNV)
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Genevieve Friedman is the Opinions Editor at MedPage Today. She is also a member of the content strategy team, co-producer of Anamnesis, and runs the interview series, “Medical Mavericks.” Follow