OB GYN News articles from March 2004

OB GYN News archives from March 2004

Coalition includes ACOG: specialty societies push tort reform.(News)
March 1, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- A new and rapidly growing specialty society coalition called Doctors for Medical Liability Reform is poised to wrest the helm of the tort reform campaign from the American Medical Association. With $10 million in its coffers...

Nuchal translucency, serum testing: trial backs early screening for Down syndrome; Results may lead to shift in standard of care for those desiring an early, noninvasive test.(News)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- First-trimester Down syndrome screening was at least as effective as second-trimester screening in a major U.S. trial expected to pave the way for a shift in the standard of care for pregnant women who desire an early,...

'Concerning and confusing': study shows HT linked to breast Ca recurrence; Experts divided over study's implications.(News)
March 1, 2004... A recent study of hormone therapy in menopausal women with a history of breast cancer was abruptly halted because of an increased rate of cancer recurrences in hormone users, but the findings are not likely to settle the debate over whether HT...

Clinical pearls contest!(Nine New Prizes)
March 1, 2004... It's that time again! Polish up your clinical pearls and send them to our Pearls columnist, Dr. Bruce L. Flamm. He will select the top nine entries, which will be featured in upcoming columns. The following prizes will be awarded: *...

Possible screening tool; Chromosomally normal fetuses: nuchal translucency, heart defects linked.(News)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- A chromosomally normal fetus with increased nuchal translucency is at significantly heightened risk of having a heart defect, Dr. Ray O. Bahado-Singh reported at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. ...

Prevalence of congenital heart defects.(News)
March 1, 2004... Nuchal Fold (mm) Prevalance (Cases/1,000) Less than 2 1.9 2.0-2.4 4.8 2.5-3.4 6.0 3.5 or greater 23.3 Source: Dr. Ray O. Bahado-Singh Note: Table made from bar graph. By Nuchal Fold...

A quick spiritual history.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... In "Pro & Con: Should physicians conduct spiritual histories of their patients?" Dr. Harold G. Koenig and Richard P. Sloan, Ph.D., missed an important reason why spiritual histories are important (Oct. 15, 2003, p. 8). Jehovah's Witnesses...

ACOG liability reform.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists is concerned that its position regarding an incremental strategy for medical liability reform was not fully represented in the article "AMA Pursues Tort Reform Strategy" (Jan. 1, 2004, p. 1)....

Low carb, high profit.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2004... The low-carbohydrate mania is sweeping the country. Unfortunately, Dr. Robert C. Atkins, who made a lot of money playing on the ignorance of Americans, knew about as much about nutrition as an Arkansas hog knows about astronomy ("Glycemic Index...

Just a free spirit?(Guest Editorial)
March 1, 2004... Sometimes a patient forces us to ask the deeper questions we'd rather not think about in the course of everyday practice. For me, that patient was a homeless woman in the emergency room of the New England hospital where I was a third-year...

May lead to undertreatment: myths abound regarding breast Ca in the elderly.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- Breast cancer in the elderly is often undertreated due to a series of misconceptions that are common among physicians and the public, Dr. Ian Fentiman asserted at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the Cancer Therapy and...

Post-WHI analysis; Survey: women overestimate HT's risks, benefits.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Women overestimate the risks and the benefits of hormone therapy, according to the results of a patient survey presented at the annual meeting of the South Atlantic Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Almost...

California data: many primary care providers who contract with Medicaid HMOs lag in STD screening.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- A significant proportion of primary care providers who contract with Medicaid HMOs don't follow recommended guidelines for screening and treating sexually transmitted diseases, Nadereh Pourat, Ph.D., said during the annual...

Study of 196 women: HT patch has less impact on coagulation factors.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Hormone therapy administered transdermally had significantly less impact on coagulation factors than did the same therapy given orally over 6 months in a study of 196 women. The study was not designed to investigate whether...

Less is more: breast-conserving therapy gains ground.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- Treatment of early breast cancer is in the midst of a revolution characterized by a "less is more" philosophy, according to Dr. Umberto Veronesi. The traditional paradigm in early-stage breast cancer has been to attack the...

Retrospective study: predicting breast cancer response to chemotherapy.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- Women with estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer are far less likely to respond to chemotherapy than are those with estrogen receptor-negative tumors, Dr. Aman Buzdar reported at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by the...

Partial-breast irradiation: treatments aim to ease radiotherapy after cancer.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- Stung by criticism that the radiotherapy component of breast-conserving therapy is such an ordeal that many favorable candidates for breast conservation opt instead for mastectomy, radiation oncologists have responded by...

Cancer-related variables had less impact: psychosocial factors predict depression in cancer survivors.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Psychosocial variables were the strongest predictors of depression in a study of breast cancer survivors, Dr. Wayne A. Bardwell reported at the annual meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. "What this says to us is...

Women with abnormal bleeding: cryoablation more effective in smaller uteri 1 year after TX.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Uterine size affects cryoablation results, with better outcomes in smaller uteri, Dr. Raffaele Bruno said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. At 1-year follow-up, of 112 women with...

Young, high-risk women; Women with BV: most mucopurulent cervicitis not tied to gonorrhea, chlamydia.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... PLAYA HERRADURA, COSTA RICA -- Among women with bacterial vaginosis, most mucopurulent cervicitis is not associated with gonorrhea or chlamydia infection, results of a study of young women in high-risk settings suggest. Mucopurulent...

Small study: focused ultrasound for uterine fibroids explored.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- Despite only a modest change in uterine fibroid volume, focused ultrasound guided by MRI resulted in a marked symptomatic improvement in the majority of 23 women treated as part of a multicenter Israeli study. "As we saw, the...

Mildly asthmatic patients: inhaled corticosteroids had only a small effect on BMD in study.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Inhaled corticosteroids appear to have little effect on the bone mineral density of mildly asthmatic patients, according to the results of a 2-year study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma,...

Postmenopausal women: small BMD gains still lower fracture risk.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Postmenopausal women don't require a big boost in their bone mineral density to cut their fracture risk. Any gain is fine. "The relationship between increase in bone mineral density [BMD] and reduction in fractures is...

Patients followed for up to 5 years: risedronate therapy preserves bone quality.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Long-term risedronate therapy appears to preserve bone quality, according to the findings of a small, industry-sponsored study presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. Together...

Standard TX recommended: BMD loss common in HIV patients.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... SAN FRANCISCO -- Osteoporosis and osteopenia are common in HIV-positive patients and should be treated no differently than in the rest of the population, Dr. Joan C. Lo said at a meeting on HIV management sponsored by the University of...

Ortho Evra patch: fake contraceptive patches reported sold on Web.(Gynecology)
March 1, 2004... Counterfeit contraceptive patches that were hawked on a Web site based in India contain no active ingredients and do not protect against pregnancy, the Food and Drug Administration has warned. So far there have been no reports of any...

Focus on systemic issues: adopt team approach to prevent obstetric errors.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2004... MAUI, HAWAII -- Stop playing the blame game when attempting to reign in obstetric management errors, Lisa A. Miller said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine, neonatology, and the law. Instead, focus on adopting...

Facial tumors, extremity anomalies: 3-D imaging spots fetal anomalies.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2004... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- Three-dimensional ultrasound examinations of fetal anomalies can reveal additional information that pinpoints diagnosis and guides patient management, Dr. Luis Izquierdo reported at the annual meeting of the South Atlantic...

Online calculator: formula may predict CPD, C-section.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2004... BOCA RATON, FLA. -- An obstetrician and two mathematicians have developed an online calculator that accurately predicted the probability of cesarean section and cephalopelvic disproportion in primiparas seen in a large, multisite practice. ...

Mnemonic checklist: think FORCEPS before operative vaginal delivery.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2004... MAUI, HAWAII -- The mnemonic FORCEPS can remind you of prerequisites for attempting an operative vaginal delivery, Dr. Michael Belfort said at a conference on obstetrics, gynecology, perinatal medicine, neonatology, and the law. To make...

Presurgical preparation: blood supplies key to placenta percreta surgery.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2004... MAUI, HAWAII -- Prepare for patient blood loss before you start surgery for placenta percreta, Dr. Michael A. Belfort said. Patients lose an average of 3,000-5,000 cc of blood in these surgeries, and 90% of all patients with accreta will...

Consider early delivery of posterior arm: approaches outlined for managing shoulder dystocia.(Obstetrics)
March 1, 2004... MAUI, HAWAII -- The different maneuvers to deliver a baby with shoulder dystocia fall into three categories: the good, the not bad, and the downright ugly. Leading off the ugly category is traction with fundal pressure, which increased the...

Only 29% receive prophylaxis: DVT prophylaxis often overlooked, experts say.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... Most patients who are at risk for deep vein thrombosis are not receiving prophylaxis in time to prevent the condition and a potentially fatal pulmonary embolism, according to experts in the field. "We fail to alert and educate providers and...

Dose-response to exercise: modest exercise maintains weight in mildly obese.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... About 30 minutes of brisk walking each day can help maintain weight in overweight and mildly obese people who continue their normal eating pattern, reported Cris A. Slentz, Ph.D., and colleagues at Duke University, Durham, N.C. A total of...

Almost 300 women studied: BMI inversely correlated with alcohol intake.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Women with a higher body mass index are less likely to consume alcohol than their slimmer counterparts, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. These findings on the...

Immediate quarantine: brief clinical exposure can lead to SARS.(Clinical Rounds)
March 1, 2004... CHICAGO -- In preparing for a possible reemergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome, clinicians need to anticipate the possibility of unexpected SARS exposure and, if exposure is recognized, to be prepared to institute an immediate...

Eating disorders.(Women's Health Adviser)
March 1, 2004... Eating disorders affect about 1% of U.S. women and can be divided into two categories: anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Patients with anorexia purposefully restrict their caloric intake either by restricting food or purging after eating....

Howard dean's not the only one: making the transition from doctor to lawmaker.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2004... Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean may be the best-known physician-politician in the United States, but he's not the only one. From the halls of Congress to governor's mansions to state legislatures and local councils, doctors frequently...

One number for all plans: new provider identifiers to simplify claims processing.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2004... WASHINGTON -- A new, simplified system for identifying providers should make claims processing easier for physicians. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in January issued a final rule that announced its adoption of National...

Policy & practice.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2004... PLAN B DELAY The Food and Drug Administration has delayed its decision on whether to approve over-the-counter use of Plan B, an emergency contraceptive drug, for 90 days. The original deadline for making the decision was Feb. 20. The delay...

Free markets or patent protections? Research costs, role of FDA cited in drug debate.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2004... Nobel prize-winning economist Milton Friedman, Ph.D., found himself in the distinctly unfamiliar position of opposing free trade during a four-way debate on whether Americans should be able to buy U.S.-made drugs from Canada and European...

Keep calm, composed; Easy does it: how to make a deposition go more smoothly.(Practice Trends)
March 1, 2004... LAS VEGAS -- Depositions are stressful, but it's essential to remain calm and think carefully before speaking, according to Dr. Abel Torres. To help doctors remember the elements of a successful deposition, he offered the mnemonic...

When routine becomes extraordinary: meeting the challenge.(The Master Class)
March 1, 2004... Obstetrical cases almost always end happily--so routinely that patients may come to view the births of their children as risk-free milestones in their family histories. As obstetricians, we know better. Only to the unpracticed eye could what we...

When routine becomes extraordinary: diagnosing and managing early preeclampsia.(The Master Class)
March 1, 2004... Classic preeclampsia occurs at the end of pregnancy, its hallmark a triad of symptoms listed in every textbook: hypertension, swelling, and elevated protein in the urine. We deliver these women, their blood pressures revert to normal, and we...

Evidence-based medicine: group rates efficacy of herbs.
March 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- A group based at Massachusetts General Hospital has begun to rate efficacy of herbal medicines according to the published evidence, the way that conventional clinical guidelines now grade the strength of the evidence behind their...

Vital signs.
March 15, 2004... Whom Your Patients Trust to Do the Right Thing for Their Health Care Not Not at Not A Lot Some Much All Sure Nurses 65% 30% 3% 1% 1%...

Breast cancer risk unaffected: increase in stroke risk halts WHI estrogen-only arm; Data not fully analyzed; experts say no need to change clinical practice yet.
March 15, 2004... The National Institutes of Health has discontinued the estrogen-only arm of its Women's Health Initiative study 1 year early, citing an increase in the risk of stroke in women taking the study medication. Although the full results have not...

Association remains unexplained: antibiotic use linked to increased risk of breast ca; Data 'do not support a change' in practice.
March 15, 2004... The more antibiotics a woman has taken, the higher her risk of developing breast cancer later and then dying from the disease, results of a large, case-control study suggest. It's still not clear whether use of antibiotics causes breast...

Guest editorial: the promise of gene therapy.(Opinion)
March 15, 2004... In recent years, research on gene therapy has yielded successes that offer much hope to patients suffering from a spectrum of diseases. I expect great advances in the coming years, but researchers still face obstacles. One sign of the...

Pro & con: should minors have over-the-counter access to Plan B emergency contraception?(Opinion)
March 15, 2004... YES Teens are one of many vulnerable groups when it comes to unintended pregnancies. Each year, there are 800,000 teen pregnancies in the United States and most of these are unintended. Increased use of Plan B--the progestin-only emergency...

Better than natural.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... Kudos to Dr. David M. Priver (no relation) on his comments about episiotomies, as well as forceps ("Movement Taking Step Back," Letters, Feb. 1, 2004, p. 7). I, too, have done thousands of episiotomies over nearly 30 years with no...

Ethics go up in smoke.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... Yes, there are doctors who would recommend marijuana--it cannot be prescribed because it has not met any of the Food and Drug Administration criteria for a pharmaceutical drug--to their patients ("Praise for Decision in Medical Marijuana Case,"...

From crisis to meltdown.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 15, 2004... Whether or not tort reform is an important legislative issue depends on the state in which you practice ("AMA Pursues Tort Reform Strategy," Jan. 1, 2004, p. 1). Some states do not have a problem since they have low premiums and good...

Simple and it works: bladder retraining aids detrusor overactivity.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- What patient wouldn't opt for stress and urgency incontinence therapy that is simple, noninvasive, inexpensive, and uncomplicated by side effects? Such an alternative exists in the form of bladder retraining, but...

Small study of ovarian cancer: delayed second-line chemo merits further study.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- The adoption of maintenance chemotherapy immediately after a patient demonstrates a complete clinical response following surgery and first-line chemotherapy may not always make the most sense for patients with advanced ovarian...

HPV, cytologic evaluation: investigational patient self-test yields few endocervical cells.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- A device designed for women to collect their own cervicovaginal samples for cytologic and human papillomavirus evaluation yielded a high number of cells but few endocervical cells, compared with a regular Pap test performed by a...

Nine new prizes: clinical pearls contest!(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... It's that time again! Polish up your clinical pearls and send them to our Pearls columnist, Dr. Bruce L. Flamm. He will select the top nine entries, which will be featured in upcoming columns. The following prizes will be awarded: *...

Standard therapies work, too: manipulate estrogen levels to treat hormonal headache.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... CANCUN, MEXICO -- Estrogen seems to exacerbate headache in women by at least two mechanisms, but the resulting hormonal headaches can be treated by standard short-term and preventive therapies in addition to manipulating levels of estradiol,...

Data on cognition: new HT labeling requested by FDA.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... Black box warnings on hormone therapy products prescribed for postmenopausal women should be updated to include data from a recent trial suggesting that combination therapy does not prevent mild cognitive impairment, the Food and Drug...

May improve compliance: extended-release ciprofloxacin shown safe, effective in study.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... A new once-daily extended-release formulation of ciprofloxacin that could enhance treatment compliance was as safe and effective as conventional twice-daily ciprofloxacin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections and acute...

First reported case: preimplantation dx rules out retinoblastoma.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... For the first time, preimplantation genetic diagnosis for retinoblastoma has ensured the birth of a healthy infant who does not carry the genetic germline for the devastating disease, reported Dr. Kangpu Xu and his colleagues at Cornell...

Weight-bearing exercise, vitamin D, calcium: few data on tx of low BMD before menopause.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... MIAMI -- Management of low bone density in premenopausal women is a tightrope walk with a short stick. There hasn't been enough research to help physicians find the right balance between overtreatment and undertreatment. "We are all...

Reverse sequence doesn't work: sequential PTH, alendronate shows synergistic effect.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... SNOWMASS, COLO. -- Sequential use of recombinant parathyroid hormone followed by an antiresorptive agent is a promising therapeutic strategy in osteoporotic patients at high risk of fractures, Dr. Kenneth G. Saag said at a symposium sponsored...

Framingham data: high homocysteine levels associated with hip fracture risk in the elderly.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... MINNEAPOLIS -- Elevated plasma levels of homocysteine correlate with a significantly increased risk of hip fractures in the elderly, Robert R. McLean reported at the annual meeting of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. In...

Large brooklyn study: few older minorities get breast ca screening.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... SAN DIEGO -- Breast cancer screening rates remain low in older minority women, Nathan Consedine, Ph.D., reported at the annual meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. In a study that he said is the largest of its kind, Dr....

Adjuvant therapy: aromatase inhibitors impressive against breast ca.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- Tamoxifen is looking increasingly like "yesterday's drug" for endocrine therapy of early breast cancer. A newer class of antiestrogens--the aromatase inhibitors--is racking up impressive evidence of superiority over...

Advanced screening protocols: new technologies aim to boost breast MRI's specificity.(Gynecology)
March 15, 2004... SAN ANTONIO -- Recent technologic advances in breast MRI will likely overcome what until now has been the imaging procedure's Achilles' heel, namely, its limited specificity, Dr. Bruce L. Daniel said at a breast cancer symposium sponsored by...

Term breech trial follow-up: planned c-section still best for term breech.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Planned cesarean section remains the safest mode of delivery in pregnant women with breech presentation at term, Dr. Hilary Whyte said at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. She based that...

Smallpox vaccine: tertiary contact vaccinia possible in breast-fed babies.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... Breast-fed infants living in close contact with smallpox vaccinees are at risk for contact vaccinia, even if the vaccinee is not the breast-feeding mother, according to a case report. Physicians at the Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma,...

Medwatch alert: nevirapine can lead to hepatotoxicity in pregnant women with HIV.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... Certain women taking nevirapine, including those with high CD4 counts or who are pregnant and receiving chronic HIV infection treatment, have a significantly increased risk of hepatotoxicity, Dr. Kirk V. Shepard of Boehringer Ingelheim...

CDC data: infant mortality up.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... Infant mortality increased in 2002 for the first time since 1958, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate climbed to 7 deaths/1,000 live births in 2002, up from 6.8 deaths/1,000 live births the...

Millions of dollars to prevent one death: universal screening for maternal HSV very costly.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Universal screening for maternal herpes simplex virus infections could reduce the incidence of neonatal infections but would cost millions of dollars to prevent one infection or death, Dr. Stephen Thung reported in a poster...

Overall neonatal morbidity unimproved: multiple steroid courses tied to lower birth weights.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Repeated weekly courses of prenatal steroids reduce infant morbidity in certain cases, but the overall risks of this approach outweigh the benefits, Dr. Ronald J. Wapner said at the annual meeting of the Society for...

Pelvic floor complications: elective c-sections may be cheaper in the long run.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Elective cesarean section may actually be the most cost-effective mode of delivery for primigravidas when taking into account the expense of long-term pelvic floor complications that can occur after vaginal birth, Dr. Nora M....

Trend toward improvement: mothers with lupus have smaller infants, more stillbirths.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Women with systemic lupus erythematosus are more likely than other women to experience a stillbirth and to give birth before term, despite recent advances in lupus treatment, Dr. Robert Sokol reported in a series of posters...

Early in pregnancy: blood levels of two molecules may predict preeclampsia.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Increased blood levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 during pregnancy and low levels of placental growth factor early in pregnancy each appear to predict development of preeclampsia, Dr. Richard Levine reported at the...

Sensitivity of only 9%: no place for nasal bone evaluation by ultrasound in aneuploidy screening.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- First-trimester nasal bone evaluation by ultrasound appears to be nearly useless in identifying aneuploidy, with a sensitivity of only 9%, Dr. Fergal Malone said at the annual meeting of the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine....

Drugs, pregnancy, and lactation: SSRIs and neonatal neurobehavior.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... With increasing recognition and treatment of depression in women during their childbearing years, more patients and their physicians are faced with the dilemma of whether to use antidepressants in pregnancy. The literature over the last...

Binge drinking most dangerous: assess pattern, amount of prenatal alcohol use.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Binge drinking during pregnancy, but not the total amount of alcohol consumed, doubles the risk of mental retardation and delinquent behavior in children, Beth Nordstrom, Ph.D., reported in a series of posters at the annual...

Aspirin and dalteparin; Thrombophilic pregnancy: use combo therapy.(Obstetrics)
March 15, 2004... NEW ORLEANS -- Pregnant women with inherited thrombophilic disorders benefit more from a combination prophylactic regimen of aspirin and dalteparin than they do from monotherapy with either of the drugs, according to the results of a...

Liability reform setback.(Policy & Practice)
March 15, 2004... The Senate recently failed to move forward on legislation that would have offered a medical liability fix for doctors who perform obstetrics. The legislation (S. 2061), introduced by Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) and Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.), would...

Medical record subpoenas.(Policy & Practice)
March 15, 2004... The U.S. Department of Justice may soon be reading through medical records to try to make its case that the recently enacted "Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003" should stand. A federal judge in Manhattan recently ruled that the department...

Rally for reform.(Policy & Practice)
March 15, 2004... The physicians in Congress are pushing for medical liability reform, and physicians everywhere should continue to lobby hard, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-Ga.), an ob.gyn., said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Even though...

Legislative activity.(Policy & Practice)
March 15, 2004... More than 700 bills related to reproductive health issues were introduced in state legislatures last year, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. More than 40 of those bills would ban some type of abortion procedure. There also were...