Pediatric News articles from February 2003

Pediatric News archives from February 2003

Swollen elbow may hide a fracture. (Arthrography a Useful Imaging Technique).
February 1, 2003... SAN DIEGO -- Beware the painful, swollen elbow of a child who presents to your office, Dr. Charles T. Price advised at an international congress on rheumatology, orthopedics, and trauma. It could be the first sign of a bone-fracture ??????...

Several states cap enrollment of children in SCHIP: budget problems are making it difficult for states to meet their share of SCHIP. (Expect Big Increase in Number of Uninsured).
February 1, 2003... Crippled by mounting budget deficits and dwindling funds, some states have begun to cap enrollment for the State Children's Health Insurance Program. Budget problems are making it difficult for states to meet their share of State...

Narcotics use up, alcohol use down in teen survey: decline in cigarette smoking, Ecstasy use. (Growth in 10th Grade Crack Users).
February 1, 2003... The latest Monitoring the Future survey of substance use among adolescents in the United States has yielded mixed results. Cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and Ecstasy (methylenedioxymethamPhetamine) use declined. But the use of...

Diagnostic dilemma.
February 1, 2003... A 9-year-old African American boy presented with a cough, conjunctivitis, rash, and a sore throat. The sore throat and cough, along with a fever, began 9 days earlier, and he developed redness of the eyes and a rash on his trunk 2 days...

Psychotropic use rises dramatically in 10-year span. (Especially Antidepressants, Stimulants).
February 1, 2003... Children were two to three times as likely to be taking psychotropic medication in 1996 as they were a decade earlier, and those utilization rates were approaching those of adults, according to a 10-year prospective study. Julie Magno...

Zithromax settlement. (Pediatric Briefs).
February 1, 2003... ZITHROMAX SETTLEMENT Pfizer has agreed to pay $6 million to settle a 19-state court action over its advertising of Zithromax (azithromycin). The investigation, led by Oregon attorney general Hardy Myers, alleges that Pfizer's ads misrepresented...

Depressed teens. (Pediatric Briefs).
February 1, 2003... DEPRESSED TEENS Feelings of depression are extremely common among adolescents, a survey led by the New York University Child Study Center found. In Internet interviews, 29% of 193 boys and 43% of 236 girls aged 13-19 years said they had...

Where health care dollars go. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... WHERE HEALTH CARE DOLLARS GO Physician and clinical services spending may have increased 8.6% in 2001--but Medicaid, hospital, and prescription drug costs continue to reign as the fastest growing spending category, the Centers for Medicare and...

Asthmatic Urban kids and CAM. (Pediatric Briefs).(complementary and alternative medicine )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... ASTHMATIC URBAN KIDS AND CAM Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used among urban minority children with asthma, Dr. Gary B. Zuckerman reported at a meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. In a...

Prenatal care up. (Pediatric Briefs).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... PRENATAL CARE UP The proportion of women receiving prenatal care in the first trimester rose from 76% in 1990 to 83% in 2001, according to a new report from the Department of Health and Human Services. In 2001, only 1% of women received no...

Smoking down in N.H. (Pediatric Briefs).(New Hampshire)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SMOKING DOWN IN N.H. Good news from New Hampshire: Current smoking among 7th and 8th graders dropped by nearly 50% between 2000 and 2001 (12% vs. 6.3%), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported (MMWR 52[1]:7-8, 2003). Also, the...

Effects of prenatal alcohol affect adolescents' growth. (Low Levels Make Impact).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Prenatal exposure to alcohol may limit growth even in adolescence, said Nancy L. Day, Ph.D., of the University of Pittsburgh, and her associates. The investigators tracked alcohol consumption of 565 lower-income women during pregnancy and...

Data watch.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... DATA WATCH Substance Abuse: Early Teens Are Dangerous Years Average Age at First: cigarette use 12.25 years drink of alcohol 12.5 years use of marijuana ...

More budesonide absorbed with a dry powder inhaler. (Impacts Long-Term Therapy).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... A dry powder inhaler appeared to increase systemic absorption of budesonide, raising cautions about long-term therapy said Dr. Shmuel Goldberg and colleagues from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. A daily dosage of 400 [micro]g of...

Genetic Tests for Strep a infection on the Horizon. (Marriage of Speed and Accuracy).
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Two genetic tests in development may improve the speed and accuracy of the diagnosis of group A streptococcus infection, Dr. Frank R. Cockerill III said at the annual meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry....

Varicella outbreak raises concerns about vaccine. (Booster Shot May be Needed).
February 1, 2003... A varicella outbreak in a New Hampshire day care center at which 73.1% of 67 age-eligible children had been vaccinated against the disease raises questions about the vaccine's long-term effectiveness, reported Dr. Karin Galil of the Centers for...

Synagis label update clarifies anaphylaxis risk. (Very Rare).
February 1, 2003... The Warnings section of the Synagis label has been updated to provide clarification on the risk of anaphylaxis. According to a "Dear Healthcare Professional" letter sent out by Synagis (palivizumab) manufacturer, MedImmune Inc., at the time...

Maternal HIV-1 tied to infant heart defects. (Do Testing Regardless of HIV-1 Status).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... All children born to women infected with HIV-1 should undergo periodic cardiovascular testing, regardless of their HIV-1 status, said Dr. Steven E. Lipshultz of the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center and his associates. In a...

Combo Tx or cesarean reduces HIV transmission to newborns. (Compared with Monotherapy).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Pregnant women with HIV who receive combination antiretroviral therapy are less likely to transmit HIV to their babies than those who receive monotherapy, said Susan A. Fiscus, Ph.D., of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and her...

Myths about Neonatal herpes simplex. (ID Consult).
February 1, 2003... Neonatal herpes simplex infection is rare in the United States but can lead to devastating outcomes when it does occur. Some of those are the result of common misconceptions. In the United States, approximately 2,000 infants develop...

Fetus was infected with West Nile virus in utero. (First Case Documented).
February 1, 2003... A New York woman infected with the West Nile virus gave birth to a brain-damaged infant in November 2002 who was also infected with the virus, according to officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. The CDC...

Most bacterial foodborne illnesses plummeted between 1996 and 2001. (Considerable Variation Around Country).
February 1, 2003... CHICAGO -- Most of the major bacterial foodborne illnesses in the United States declined substantially between 1996 and 2001, Dr. Luenda E. Charles reported at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. During those...

Food prep was factor in 77% of foodborne illnesses in school. (Salmonella Most Common Culprit).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Approximately 25 outbreaks of foodborne illness occurred annually in American schools and colleges from 1973 through 1997, for a total of 604 outbreaks. The food preparation site was a factor in 597 outbreaks, and the contaminated food was...

Rapid Salmonella diagnosis. (Clinical Capsules).(with the TUBEX test )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... The TUBEX test is a one-step, 2-minute method with 93% sensitivity and 95% specificity for diagnosing salmonella infections, said Dr. Grzegorz Oracz of the Medical University of Warsaw and his colleagues. In a study of 190 children younger than...

Fluconazole treats thrush. (Clinical Capsules).
February 1, 2003... Fluconazole appears to be more effective than nystatin in suspension for treating oral candidiasis (thrush), said Dr. R. Alan Goins of the Wilford Hall U.S. Air Force Medical Center, San Antonio, and his colleagues. In a pilot study of 36...

Assessing meningitis risk. (Clinical Capsules).
February 1, 2003... Two indicators from cerebrospinal fluid help assess the need for empiric antibiotics in children with clinical characteristics of bacterial meningitis, said Dr. Rianne Oostenbrink of Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam (the Netherlands) and...

Assays reduce antibiotic use. (Clinical Capsules).(direct fluorescent assay testing)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Direct fluorescent assay testing for respiratory viruses is linked to a reduction in antibiotic use, said Dr. Carrie L. Byington of the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, and her associates. In a retrospective medical chart review over two...

Characterizing CAP. (Clinical Capsules).(community-acquired pneumonia )(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Successful treatment of community-acquired pneumonia varies with the etiology, said Dr. Susanna Esposito of the University of Milan and her associates. In a study of 196 children with community-acquired pneumonia, aged 2-5 years, 44 had an...

Think fecal retention as cause of recurrent UTIs. (Hidden Epidemic).(urinary tract infections)
February 1, 2003... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Chronic fecal retention could be the cause of recurrent urinary tract infections in many children, Dr. Stephen Koff said at the annual meeting of the American Urological Association. If left untreated, the condition could...

Pick narrowest-spectrum antibiotic if Rx needed. (Just Say no to Fluoroquinolones).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- At least 50% of antibiotic prescriptions are inappropriate, claimed Dr. Carol J. Baker of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Infectious Disease. Nevertheless, parents continue to clamor for antibiotics and...

Data watch.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... DATA WATCH Children Completing Vaccinations at Appropriate Ages Percentage Who Met Age Recommendations * All hepatitis B ...

ACIP fine-tunes the smallpox vaccination program. (Includes Vaccination Site Care).(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices)
February 1, 2003... Contact with infants less than 1 year of age, vaccination site care, and autoimmune disease were among the last-minute issues pertaining to smallpox vaccination that were clarified in telephone conference calls held by the Centers for Disease...

Let symptoms guide Tourette syndrome therapy. (Use Drugs for Most Severe Problems).
February 1, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, VA.-- As a spectrum disorder, Tourette syndrome comes in different degrees, and treatment should be based on the severity of a patient's symptoms, Dr. Gerald Erenberg said at a conference sponsored by the Tourette Syndrome...

Comorbid conditions actually may overshadow tourette syndrome. (Tics Often Mild in Comparison).
February 1, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- Comorbid conditions often pose bigger problems for children with Tourette syndrome than the condition itself, Dr. John Walkup said at a conference sponsored by the Tourette Syndrome Association. Comorbid conditions...

Learning disorders complicate Tourette syndrome care. (Strategies for Management).
February 1, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, VA. -- Early identification of learning disorders is the key to helping children with Tourette syndrome cope with these frequently accompanying problems. That was the message delivered by Dr. Samuel Zinner at a conference...

Columbia teenscreen program targets suicide. (Proactive Suicide Prevention).
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Teen suicide is "a fatal complication of a disease that hasn't been adequately treated," Dr. David Shaffer said at a congressional briefing on children's mental health. Teen suicide may be preventable if teens with mental...

Some youths view psychotropic med use as a 'failure'. (Study of Utah Suicide).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- A study of 49 Utah youths aged 13-21 who completed suicide between August 1996 and June 1999 reveals that their parents reported a high rate of psychiatric diagnoses. However, according to medical examiners' toxicology...

ADHD Dx in primary care pediatrics is tough. (Using the AAP Guidelines).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- There are significant barriers for most physicians in implementing the evidence-based guidelines for the diagnosis of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder released by the American Academy of Pediatrics in the spring of 2000. ...

Impairment from anxiety disorder is often underrated or ignored. (Debilitating Disorder).
February 1, 2003... ALBUQUERQUE -- In a given classroom of 30 children, typically 3-5 have an anxiety disorder. Large surveys indicate 10%-15% of children in various communities meet formal diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder, making this the most...

Intentionally injured youth at increased risk for PTSD. (Preliminary Results from 5-Year Study).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Intentionally injured adolescents are at greater risk for symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome compared with their unintentionally injured counterparts, and are also more likely to exhibit externalizing behaviors, Brian...

Eating disorders, smoking link found. (Among Adolescents).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Poor eating attitudes and symptoms of eating disorders are more common among adolescents who smoke compared with those who don't, Dr. Carmel Flores said in a poster session at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Child...

ADHD stimulants: drug abuse risk not higher. (Possible Portective Effect).
February 1, 2003... Stimulants prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in childhood and adolescence don't appear to increase the risk of later drug abuse. In fact, their use may help protect against it, according to two recently published...

Many conditions either coexist with or mimic ADHD. (Can Hamper Treatment Success).(attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder)
February 1, 2003... HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S. C. -- Many conditions can either coexist with or masquerade as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, making the diagnosis more complex than it might first appear, Dr. Adrian Sandier said at a meeting sponsored by the...

Autism prevalence higher than 10-20 year ago. (Atlanta Study in Line with Recent Studies).( )
February 1, 2003... The prevalence of autism among U.S. children aged 3-10 is 10 times greater than it was thought to be in the 1980s and early 1990s, based on the results of an Atlanta area study, said Dr. Marshalyn Yeargin-All-sopp of the Centers for Disease...

Depression may hit over one-third of adolescents. (Study of More than 3,000 Teens).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Lifetime prevalence of depression in adolescents is estimated to hover around 20%, but results of a recent study suggest that figure might be nearly two times higher, Dr. Stephanie Riolo reported in a poster session at the...

Sertraline appears effective, safe for depression in children and Adolescents. (Up to 24 Weeks of Treatment).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Sertraline is effective and well tolerated in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder for up to 24 weeks of treatment, Dr. Karen Dineen Wagner reported in a poster session at the annual meeting of the American...

When families change. (Behavioral Consult).
February 1, 2003... When marriages fail, family relationships inevitably change. No matter how sensitive a divorcing couple is, children will experience a sense of loss, uncertainty, and instability--at least for a time. Someone who was loved and trusted is no...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2003... Sit Down, Doctor The body language message delivered to a mom when the pediatrician sits down is that the floor is open for anything that crosses the parent's mind ("Speaking Another Language," Letters From Maine, December 2002, p. 18)....

A Matter of restraint. (Letters From Maine).(Editorial)
February 1, 2003... The head-newspaper caught my eye because I've always felt a professional kinship with veterinarians: "Board suspends veterinarian for mistreating dogs." Like them, we pediatricians find some of our most challenging patients can't communicate...

Six diagnostic possibilities for painful, red feet. (Different Treatment Options).
February 1, 2003... VICTORIA, B.C. -- Children complaining of painful, swollen red feet may have one of six pediatric disorders that present in much the same manner, Dr. Julie S. Francis said at the annual meeting of the Pacific Northwest Dermatological Society....

Atopic dermatitis by age 2 increases asthma, allergy risk. (Boys at Higher Risk than Girls).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Children who develop atopic dermatitis during the first 2 years of life have an increased risk of other atopic conditions and respiratory infections, report Dr. Maria Bohme of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm and her colleagues. The...

Air travel is not a problem for most infants. (Conventional Wisdom Full of Myths).
February 1, 2003... Common strategies to keep newborns and infants comfortable during air travel amount to little more than flights of fancy. Here are some of the facts and fiction about air travel for very young humans: Babies and toddlers tolerate air...

Breast-feeding rates continued to rise in 2001. (National Survey).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... U.S. breast-feeding rates continue to increase, according to data from a large national survey conducted in 2001. In-hospital breast-feeding grew about 2% per year--and more than 3% in some groups--compared with 1996 rates. The largest...

Zyvox. (New & Approved).
February 1, 2003... (linezolid, Pharmacia Corn.) The Food and Drug Administration approved Zyvox (linezolid) for the treatment of gram-positive infections in infants and children. Indications now include complicated and uncomplicated skin and skin structure...

Prozac. (New & Approved).
February 1, 2003... (fluoxetine, Eli Lilly & Co.) The FDA approved this drug for treating major depressive disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents aged 7-17 years. Fluoxetine is the first selective serotonin reuptake...

Endocrine Ills may be behind girls' early puberty. (Masked by Lowering Normal Age).
February 1, 2003... Physicians who use a set of 1999 recommendations for identifying girls with precocious puberty could seriously underdiagnose underlying endocrinologic disorders in this population, according to Dr. L. Kurt Midyett and his colleagues at...

Controversy heats up as rate of bed sharing continues to rise. (Opponents Cite Risk of SIDS, Smothering).
February 1, 2003... The practice of bed sharing is widespread and growing in the United States, according to two new studies. This leaves physicians with questions about its dangers and benefits, as well as what to do about it. The results of one study...

Web site helps overweight children get active. (Kid-Friendly Site has Games, Jokes, Recipes).(www.kidnetic.com)
February 1, 2003... FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. -- Overweight youngsters and their parents can find kid-friendly but medically sound guidance to help them get active, eat well, and lose weight at a new nonprofit Web site, www.kidnetic.com. Stuffed with...

Obesity behind rise in incidence of primary hypertension. (Blacks, Hispanics at Highest Risk).
February 1, 2003... MIAMI BEACH -- The increasing rate of obesity in children is causing an increase in primary hypertension and related comorbidities, and Hispanic and African American children may be particularly affected, Dr. Jonathan M. Sorof said at a meeting...

Right to self-administer emergency Rx in school rare. (Children with Asthma, Severe Allergies).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- The majority of children in the United States with asthma or severe allergies do not have the legal right to carry and self-administer emergency medications while at school, Nancy Sander reported in a poster presentation at the...

Multiple facets of urban living can exacerbate asthma. (Socioeconomics, Environment Play Role).
February 1, 2003... Urban environmental, social, and economic factors might help explain why half of the children and adolescents diagnosed with asthma in Hartford, Conn.--the fourth poorest medium-sized city in America--have persistent asthma. Of children...

Reading about asthma while waiting improves office visits. (Patients ask More Informed Questions).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Having new asthma patients read about the disease in your waiting room may lead to a more productive office visit, Dr. Thomas F. Plaut said at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy Asthma, and Immunology. Dr....

Allergic rhinitis, sinusitis Tx often helps asthma. (Association Between Upper Lower Airway).
February 1, 2003... SAN ANTONIO -- Treating upper airway disease should be considered as adjunctive therapy in the care of patients with asthma, according to Dr. Michael A. Kaliner. Converging epidemiologic, physiologic, and treatment observation data support...

Include oral health in pediatric preventive care. (Evaluate Eating, Sleeping Habits).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Oral health should be integrated into pediatric anticipatory guidance, Peter Catapano, D.D.S., said at a pediatrics conference sponsored by New York University. The American Dental Association, the American Academy of Pediatric...

History, physical crucial to knee injury evaluation. (Specifics to ask Patients).
February 1, 2003... KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- X-rays rarely nail diagnoses of acute knee injuries. They are no substitute for a good history and physical, Dr. Steven Anderson said at a sports injury meeting sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics. When...

Insufficient rehab runs risk of recurrent ankle injuries. (Follow-up Key to Preventing more Sprains).
February 1, 2003... KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. -- Many ankle injuries can be treated by the general pediatrician, as long as adequate rehabilitation is provided, Dr. Paul Stricker said at a meeting on pediatric and adolescent sports medicine sponsored by the American...

Tacrolimus appears safe in children under 2 years. (Immunomodulator for Atopic Dermatitis).
February 1, 2003... NEW YORK -- Long-term safety studies are providing reassurance that the topical immunomodulator tacrolimus appears to be safe and effective in children, even at the higher concentration of 0.1% and in children under 2 years old, even though...

Try higher doses of terbinafine for treating tinea capitis in children. (How Much Higher Still Unclear).
February 1, 2003... PARIS -- Optimal dosing of terbinafine for tinea capitis in children appears to be in excess of 4.5 mg/kg per day--although just how much more remains unclear, Dr. Sheila Fallon Friedlander said at a satellite symposium held in conjunction with...

Benzoyl peroxide and tretinoin good for acne. (Inflammatory Variety).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Combining 6% benzoyl peroxide with 0.1% tretinoin resulted in greater improvement in inflammatory acne lesions than did tretinoin monotherapy Dr. Alan R. Shalita reported at a clinical dermatology conference. By using...

Psychiatric disorder link to epilepsy often missed. (Overlooked in Nearly Two Thirds).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Physicians who care for children with epilepsy need to be more aware that these children are prone to psychiatric problems. This was the message presented by Dr. Rochelle Caplan at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy...

Apnea, epilepsy combo tied behavior problems. (Also to Depression).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... SEATTLE -- Children with epilepsy have a higher than normal rate of apnea, and the apnea appears to be associated with mood and behavior disturbances, Danielle Becker said at the annual meeting of the American Epilepsy Society. In a survey...

Behavioral interventions key to battling obesity. (It Works in Trials, but What About in Life?).
February 1, 2003... SAN FRANCISCO -- Comprehensive, family-based behavioral lifestyle interventions are the cornerstone of obesity treatment for children, Marsha Marcus, Ph.D., said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. But...

Insulin pumps often beat multiple daily injections. (But Glargine may Prove Equally Effective).
February 1, 2003... KEYSTONE, Colo. -- Children with type 1 diabetes on insulin pump therapy tend to manage their disease better than those who take multiple daily injections of insulin, Dr. Francine R. Kaufman said at a juvenile diabetes meeting sponsored by the...

Campaign promotes [HbA.sub.1c] testing in diabetic patients. (Below 7% is Target).
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- Fewdiabetic patients know their hemoglobin [A.sub.1c] level, but that may be about to change. A coalition of nearly two dozen diabetes groups has launched a national campaign to alert physicians and diabetic patients about the...

Newborn tests may miss hypothyroidism. (Early Treatment is Essential).
February 1, 2003... HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Between 5% and 10% of congenital hypothyroidism is not identified at newborn screening, which means pediatricians should be on the lookout for it, said Dr. Robert Schwartz, professor of pediatrics and chief of...

Security applications: PDASecure. (Digital Assistance).
February 1, 2003... Overview: PDASecure is an easily configured, flexible security application for Palm and Pocket PC handheld computers. Robust password protection and encryption capabilities are at the core of this product. Those who manage individually...

States face a long road to universal coverage. ('No Concurrent Voices').
February 1, 2003... BALTIMORE -- Although several states have attempted it, no state has successfully implemented a universal coverage program, and the chances of any state doing so in the near future are slim, several speakers said at a meeting on state efforts...

Questions about medical privacy rule answered. (Mid-April Deadline).(Health Information Portability and Accountability Act)
February 1, 2003... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has released a new guidance document about the federal government's medical privacy rule. The 123-page document provides clear answers to questions about portions of the medical privacy...

PhRMA challenges prior approval for Medicaid Rx. (State Efforts to Mange Medicaid).(Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America)
February 1, 2003... The legal tide has continued to turn against the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America in its fight to stop state efforts to introduce prior authorization and require supplemental rebates for Medicaid-covered prescription drugs....

Consumers' take on higher malpractice premiums. (Physicians see Different Causes).
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- If physicians really want to lower their malpractice premiums, they should weed out bad doctors who are responsible for medical errors, representatives of a coalition of consumer advocacy organizations said at a press briefing....

Governors target malpractice crisis in new report. (Short-Term Solutions Outlined).(National Governors Association)
February 1, 2003... With the help of states in the midst of a malpractice crisis, the National Governors Association has developed a list of ways that states can deal with, or try to stave off, problems of their own. The governors' advice appears in an issue...

Emergency contraception: more info sought. (Especially for Teens).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... Seventy-two percent of American voters support federal legislation that would provide the public with information about emergency contraception, a new survey found. The survey of more than 500 voters was commissioned by the Reproductive...

Medicaid cut from advisory council's Agenda. (Pay Recommendations Rejected by CMS).(Practicing Physicians Advisory Council)
February 1, 2003... WASHINGTON -- A federal advisory panel that addresses physician payment issues will limit or possibly eliminate Medicaid deliberations from its purview. The Practicing Physicians Advisory Council (PPAC) no longer has the time or the...

Claims of cloned baby may be hoax. (No Concrete Evidence Yet).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2003... New revelations have poked some holes in a company's claim that it produced a cloned human baby. Clonaid, a firm founded by the U.S.-based Raelian sect, made the announcement of an infant clone at the end of December. Now, Michael Guillen,...