OB GYN News articles from October 2001

OB GYN News archives from October 2001

Two States Mired in Malpractice Crisis. (Penn., W.Va. Fear Loss of OB.GYNS.).
October 1, 2001... Although malpractice insurance rates are rising all across the country, the pain may be worst for physicians in two states: Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Other regions of the country have serious malpractice insurance problems, but these...

ACOG: Fetal Pulse Oximetry Is Not Ready for Practice: Experts concerned that it would increase costs without improving outcomes. (Committee Opinion).
October 1, 2001... Little more than a year after federal approval of fetal pulse oximetry, experts caution that it's not ready for use in everyday clinical practice. The device, OxiFirst, developed by Nellcor in Pleasanton, Calif., was approved by the Food...

PCOS Strongly Linked to Autoimmune Thyroiditis: Thyroid function tests advised in PCOS. (Prevalence is Fourfold Higher).
October 1, 2001... DENVER -- Autoimmune thyroiditis may be four times as common in women with polycystic ovary syndrome as it is in women without PCOS, Dr. Roland Gaertner reported at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. The association was so strong...

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy May Help Restore Ovulation. (Stress-Induced Anovulation).
October 1, 2001... DENVER -- A course of cognitive-behavioral therapy is highly effective for restoration of ovarian function in women with functional hypothalamic amenorrhea, Dr. Sarah L. Berga reported at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. This...

Guest Editorial: The Future of ART. (Opinion).
October 1, 2001... As the founder of the first in vitro fertilization program in the United States, I'm frequently asked about where I see the future of assisted reproduction heading. In the next 10 years, I think we're going to see the emergence of a new...

Letters.
October 1, 2001... Endometrial Ablation I was glad to see the report on newer technology that has long been needed in our field ("Two New Endometrial Ablation Devices Approved," June 1, 2001, p. 4). We still perform too many hysterectomies, and we should...

Colorectal Diseases Often Pose Little Fetal Risk. (Crohn's Disease, Ulcerative Colitis).
October 1, 2001... ORLANDO, FLA. - Maternal Crohn's disease does not appear to be linked to fetal complications unless the disease is active and severe, Dr. Jeffrey P. Snow said at a meeting of the One Kilo Club. Dr. Snow, chief of surgery at Memorial...

Ginger for Nausea in Pregnancy: Use Caution. (Good Efficacy, Lingering Safety Issues).
October 1, 2001... STANFORD, CALIF. -- Ginger for nausea and vomiting in pregnancy is an alternative therapy backed by reasonably persuasive evidence of efficacy, but unanswered safety questions dictate that it be used with caution, Dr. W LeRoy Heinrichs said at...

Drugs, Pregnancy, and Lactation. (Antiepileptics).
October 1, 2001... An estimated 0.5%-2% of pregnant women are on antiepileptic medication. Most experts would agree that medical treatment of seizures cannot be stopped during pregnancy because of the high risks to the fetus if the mother has a seizure. The...

Induction, Expectant Management Equally Safe. (Managing from Patients at Term).
October 1, 2001... SAN FRANCISCO - It's equally safe to immediately induce labor in a healthy pregnant woman with premature rupture of membranes at term or to manage her expectantly, ideally for no more than 24 hours, Dr. Stephanie E. Mann said. The...

Greater Maternal Weight Gain Advocated for Twins. (Lowers Perinatal Mortality).
October 1, 2001... STANFORD, CALIF. - The time has come to seriously consider encouraging weight gains of 45-50 pounds or more as "best practice" in twin pregnancies, Judith E. Brown, Ph.D., said at a conference on perinatal and pediatric nutrition. "In...

Outcomes Good After Converting To a T Incision. (Cesarean Section).
October 1, 2001... ST. JOHN'S, NFLD. - When low transverse incisions for cesarean sections need to be converted to a T incision, outcomes are no worse for the mother or the neonate, compared with when a classical vertical incision is performed straight away. ...

Experts Say IUD Reputation Set for a Rebound. (Study says Device not linked to Infertility).
October 1, 2001... The intrauterine device may be poised for a comeback, some experts predict. Two events have occurred in the past year that could cause physicians in this country to reappraise the device: A recent large, case-control study suggesting that...

New Intrauterine Device Has Noncontraceptive Benefits. (Relieves Dysfunctional Bleeding).
October 1, 2001... SEA ISLAND, GA. - The recently approved Mirena IUD has several noncontraceptive benefits, including the reduction of dysfunctional uterine bleeding and the protection of the endometrium for women on estrogen therapy. "These...

Classification System Aids Vaginitis Treatment. (Vulvovaginal Candidiasis).
October 1, 2001... DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA - Treatment of candidal vaginitis has been made much easier by introduction of the Infectious Diseases Society of America disease classification system, Dr. Jack D. Sobel said. The IDSA classification system, of which...

Vulvar Skin Lesions: Do They Itch or Burn? (Clues to Treatment Success).
October 1, 2001... VAIL, COLO. -- Asking whether a vulvar skin lesion itches or burns provides an early indication of how easy treatment is likely to be, Dr. Barbara R. Reed said at a conference on obstetrics and gynecology sponsored by the University of...

Endometritis Associated With Lower Genital Tract Infections. (Marker for Subclinical Pid?).
October 1, 2001... QUEBEC CITY -- Endometritis is common among women with certain lower genital tract infections that may serve as markers for subclinical pelvic inflammatory disease, Dr. Harold C. Wiesenfeld reported at the annual meeting of the Infectious...

Luteal Phase Fluoxetine Dosing Improves PMDD. (A Higher Dose Appears Better).
October 1, 2001... NEW ORLEANS - Luteal phase dosing with fluoxetine was effective in treating mood and physical symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder, according to several poster presentations at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association....

PMDD Criteria Exclude Too Many Patients. (Preliminary Study).
October 1, 2001... NEW ORLEANS -- The diagnostic criteria for premenstrual dysphoric disorder may be too stringent, according to a National Institute of Mental Health--sponsored study. Among 430 women who rated their daily functioning and premenstrual...

Raloxifene May Block L-Thyroxine Absorption. (Take the Drugs at Different Times).
October 1, 2001... SAN ANTONIO - Patients taking raloxifene and L-thyroxine should be advised not to take the two drugs at the same time, Dr. Elias S. Siraj said at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. Dr. Siraj of the...

Spectinomycin Is Back on the Market for Now. (For N. Gonorrhoeae).
October 1, 2001... Spectinomycin is available again-at least until December 31. The drug, recommended for the treatment of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in patients who can't take cephalosporins or fluoroquinolones, was discontinued by Pharmacia Corp., Peapack, N.J.,...

CMS Simplifies Pessary Reimbursement Procedures. (No DMERC Number Needed).
October 1, 2001... WASHINGTON - Getting reimbursed for providing pessaries to Medicare patients is about to get easier. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced that, beginning Jan. 1, 2002, physicians can get reimbursed for pessaries...

New Regulation Calls for Self-Sheathing Needles. (Office-Based Physicians Affected).
October 1, 2001... A pointedly worded federal regulation may put physicians on the spot if their offices are still using conventional sharps instead of safer sheathed or retracting models that protect health care workers from needle-stick injuries. The...

Nearly Half Report Problems With Health Plan. (Survey of Insured).
October 1, 2001... Many people are still having problems with their health plans, and patient's rights legislation is as popular as it's ever been, according to a survey released by the Kaiser Family Foundation and Harvard University School of Public Health. ...

Stem Cell Hearing. (Policy Practice).
October 1, 2001... STEM CELL HEARING The actual number of stem cell lines available for research may be fewer than the 64 lines cited in the White House policy, members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee acknowledged at a recent...

Test All Patients Over Age 30 at Risk for Diabetes. (New Diabetes Guidelines).
October 1, 2001... WASHINGTON - New guidelines call for a major expansion of screening for diabetes, urging physicians to test any patient over age 30 at increased risk for the disease. The guidelines, issued in August by the American College of...

C. difficile Colitis Gets Tough. (GI Disorders).
October 1, 2001... Clostridium difficile colitis appears to have become an increasingly aggressive infection since the mid-1990s, Dr. Arden Morris said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. The incidence of C. difficile...

Psychosocial Dysfunction in IBD. (GI Disorders).
October 1, 2001... Psychosocial as well as medical management is needed for that small subset of inflammatory bowel disease patients with vague clinical findings who consume excess service with poor outcome, according to a study conducted at Dalhousie University,...

Orlistat in Type 2 Diabetes. (Diabetes).
October 1, 2001... Orlistat produced significant weight loss, improved blood sugar control, and reduced cardiovascular risk factors in overweight, insulin-treated patients with type 2 diabetes, Dr. George Bray reported at the annual scientific sessions of the...

Diet, Exercise Reduce Diabetes. (Diabetes).
October 1, 2001... Lifestyle intervention as well as metformin can reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in people with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), according to findings from the Diabetes Prevention Program announced at a meeting held at the...

Cognitive Decline Prevention. (Mental Health).
October 1, 2001... Regular exercise may help prevent cognitive decline in elderly women, Dr. Kristine Yaffe said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology. The study enrolled 5,925 women, aged 65 years or older, who were not cognitively...

NSAIDs Side Effects. (Mental Health).
October 1, 2001... Dramatic psychiatric symptoms have been reported occasionally in patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Symptoms usually resolve promptly when the drugs are discontinued, but in at least one scenario--the concurrent use of an...

Mammography Reimbursement. (Policy Practice).
October 1, 2001... MAMMOGRAPHY REIMBURSEMENT The proposed reimbursement for diagnostic mammograms for next year is so low that hospitals will be forced to evaluate whether they can continue providing them, the American College of Radiology says. The 2002 proposed...

Abortion Provider Reinstated. (Policy Practice).
October 1, 2001... ABORTION PROVIDER REINSTATED Dr. LeRoy Carhart, an abortion provider who successfully challenged Nebraska's "partial-birth" abortion ban in the U.S. Supreme Court, has been reinstated to his volunteer faculty post at the University of...

Expanded Medicaid Coverage. (Policy Practice).
October 1, 2001... EXPANDED MEDICAID COVERAGE Nine more states have been given approval by the Department of Health and Human Services to extend Medicaid coverage to uninsured women with breast and cervical cancer. The states are Alabama, Georgia, Iowa,...

Safety Net Status. (Policy Practice).
October 1, 2001... SAFETY NET STATUS The health care safety net faces unprecedented pressure from all sides, an overview of hospitals in five markets indicates. The report, commissioned by the Kaiser Commission on Medicaid and the Uninsured, examined safety net...

Laparoscopic Uterine Artery Ligation Studied. (Fibroids Treated in 33 Patients).
October 1, 2001... OR ORLANDO, FLA. -- Laparoscopic uterine artery ligation may be the gynecologic surgeon's best answer to uterine artery embolization performed by interventional radiologists, Dr. Leroy Charles said at a meeting of the One Kilo Club. The...

What One Doctor Can Do to Prepare. (Three Steps To Volunteerism).
October 15, 2001... Your community is not prepared for a medical response to a terrorist attack. Public health experts interviewed in the immediate aftermath of terrorist bombings in New York and Washington advise civic-minded physicians to take three steps...

HSV-2 Acquisition In Pregnancy High If Partner Infected: Partner testing is especially important for couples together less than 1 year. (Up To 22% Become Infected).
October 15, 2001... QUEBEC CITY -- More than one in five women are likely to acquire herpes simplex virus type 2 during their pregnancy if their partner carries the infection, Dr. Carolyn Gardella reported at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society...

Cervical Manipulations Linked to Perinatal Sepsis: Consider GBS-specific chemoprophylaxis. (Eight Case Reports).
October 15, 2001... QUEBEC CITY -- Obstetricians may want to hold off on performing cervical manipulation or membrane stripping to hasten labor in women with cervical/vaginal infection or colonization with pathogens, Dr. Carol Stamm reported at the annual meeting...

Freehand Pill Cutting Can Lead to Improper Dosing of Misoprostol. (Brittle Pills A Problem).
October 15, 2001... SEA ISLAND, GA. -- If you're cutting 100-[micro]g misoprostol pills to create smaller doses for cervical ripening, you may be giving your patient more or less of the drug than you intended. That's the conclusion of a study presented by Dr....

Woman Dies of Sepsis in Abortion Pill Study. (First Known Occurrence; Trial Suspended).
October 15, 2001... A Canadian woman participating in a trial of medical abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol has died from sepsis, according to the study's sponsor, the Population Council. "We don't believe the drug caused the clostridial infection or...

Is There an IUD Syndrome? (Five Case Reports).
October 15, 2001... QUEBEC CITY -- At least five individuals born to mothers who had Dalkon intrauterine device shields in place during gestation are now reporting neurologic deficits that are possibly associated with the device. In a series of case reports...

Trial Run of Rapid-Response Program Gets Medical Supplies to NYC in 7 Hours. ('Push Packages').
October 15, 2001... A new rapid-response program within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that provides truckloads of medical supplies to disaster sites was activated for the first time in response to the terrorist attack on New York. The...

Additional Resources. (News).
October 15, 2001... More information about the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Medical Assistance Teams is available at their Web site http://ndms.dhhs.gov or by calling 800-USA-NDMS. A synopsis of...

Letters. (Opinion).
October 15, 2001... Editor's Note Several readers expressed concern ver a photo we published of Dr. Harry Reich performing laparoscopic surgery without wearing a mask (Sept. 1, 2001, p. 1). We asked Dr. Reich to explain his rationale for not doing so, and his...

Is It Really a Surgical Advance? (Guest Editorial).
October 15, 2001... The jury is still out on whether laparoscopic correction of incontinence and prolapse is truly a surgical advance. Although the laparoscope was introduced into gynecology decades ago as a diagnostic tool, it is now being promoted as a means...

C-Sections for Fetal Anomalies Under Question. (Little Evidence On Best Mode Of Delivery).
October 15, 2001... WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. -- Although many physicians consider cesarean section the standard of care for a wide variety of fetal anomalies, there is no basis for this practice in the literature, Dr. Deward Voss said at an ob.gyn. meeting sponsored...

'Thrifty Phenotype' Hypothesis Gains Ground. (Implications Of Fetal Growth Restriction).
October 15, 2001... STANFORD, CALIF. -- Mounting validation of the Barker hypothesis has farreaching implications for the practice of obstetrics, Dr. Anthony F. Philipps predicted at a conference on perinatal and pediatric nutrition. The Barker hypothesis,...

Findings, Hx Flag Need for Fetal Echocardiogram. (Fetal Hydrops, Maternal Cardiac Disease).
October 15, 2001... PALM BEACH, FLA. - Although few obstetricians will ever do a fetal echocardiogram themselves, knowing when to ask for one and how to guide their patients through the results is a valuable asset, according to one expert. If an anomaly is...

Some Techniques May Help Reduce Perineal Trauma. (Perineal Massage, Warm Compresses).
October 15, 2001... SAN FRANCISCO -- Episiotomy rates are down. Now what? It's time to turn attention to other means of reducing perineal trauma during childbirth, certified nurse-midwife Judith Bishop said at a meeting on antepartum and intrapartum management...

Careful Preconceptional Counseling Warranted in Women Over Age 35. (Increased Risk Of Complications).
October 15, 2001... ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- When it comes to preconception counseling of women older than 35 years, be honest about the increased risks for complications, but put the information in context and balance it with the appropriate dose of hope and optimism,...

Thyroid Function Test Spots Postpartum Thyroiditis. (Linked To Postpartum Depression).
October 15, 2001... SAN FRANCISCO -- Testing for antithyroid antibodies in maternal blood during pregnancy can help predict which women will later develop postpartum blues, Dr. Peter P.B. Yeo said. Women with the antibodies are the most likely to develop...

Strategies Outlined for Reducing HIV Transmission. (Prenatal Screening, Scheduled C-Section).
October 15, 2001... AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. -- Rates of perinatal transmission of HIV have decreased dramatically in the last decade, but many HIV-positive women remain at risk of transmitting the virus to their baby, Dr. B. Denise Raynor said at an ob.gyn. update...

Acyclovir Reduces Herpes Lesions, Cesarean Section Rates. (Prophylactic Treatment).
October 15, 2001... QUEBEC CITY -- Prophylactic acyclovir given late in pregnancy significantly reduces herpes simplex virus lesions and lowers C-section rates for herpes, Dr. D. Heather Watts said at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society for...

Sexual Orientation Influences Women's Health. (Lesbians, bisexuals Have Higher Morbidity).
October 15, 2001... SAN FRANCISCO -- Lesbian and bisexual women reported more physical and mental morbidity, had more difficulty getting health care, and were less likely to undergo preventive health screenings, compared with heterosexual women in a telephone...

Liposuction Called Promising for Breast Reduction. (Less Pain, Down Time).
October 15, 2001... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Liposuction is emerging as a very promising new approach to breast reduction, Dr. Christopher Zachary said at a meeting on cosmetic dermatology sponsored by the Skin Disease Education Foundation. Early reports suggest that...

Endometriosis Surgery May Warrant Referral. (Cul-De-Sac, Rectosigmoid Colon).
October 15, 2001... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Surgery for endometriosis that has invaded the cul-de-sac and rectosigmoid colon is exceedingly challenging and fraught with difficulty, five leaders in the field said at a meeting of the One Kilo Club. "If you get in...

Correct Pre-Op Anemia to Limit Transfusions. (Lessons From Jehovah's Witnesses).
October 15, 2001... ORLANDO, FLA. -- Patients receive far more transfusions than necessary, a trend that can be reversed if physicians make a concerted effort to identify and correct preoperative anemia and take advantage of various strategies to minimize the use...

Try Nontraditional Strategies As Alternatives to Blood Transfusions. (Consider Human Erythropoietin).
October 15, 2001... ORLANDO, FLA. -- A number of nontraditional techniques can help patients avoid blood transfusions, said Dr. Arnold Friedman, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. He outlined some of these methods...

Take Steps to Prevent the Formation of Adhesions. (Use Of Barriers Seems Effective).
October 15, 2001... PALM BEACH, FLA. -- Taking steps to prevent postsurgical adhesion formation is vital, because trying to remove them later probably won't help much, Dr. Eric Bieber said at an ob.gyn. meeting sponsored by the University of Chicago. "The...

Diagnosing Pubertal Developmental Disorders. (Rare But Often Overlooked).
October 15, 2001... BALTIMORE -- If you don't particularly like evaluating the 17-year-old who has not reached menarche yet, refer her to an expert, Dr. Leo Plouffe Jr. advised. Pubertal development disorders are so rare that "if you're not going to spend the...

Conservative Tx for Vulvovaginitis in Children Advocated. (Avoid Soap).
October 15, 2001... AMELIA ISLAND, FLA. -- Vulvovaginitis is the most common gynecologic complaint among young children, Dr. Sue Ellen Carpenter said at an ob.gyn. update sponsored by Emory University. Vulvovaginitis typically presents with vaginal discharge,...

Cystoscopy Useful in Diagnosis, Evaluation. (Microscopic Hematuria, Recurrent UTI).
October 15, 2001... ASHEVILLE, N.C. -- Cystoscopy is indicated for a number of conditions seen in a general ob.gyn. practice, and it can be particularly useful for pinning down a diagnosis in conditions that have a number of potential causes, Dr. AnnaMarie...

Attack the Causes Behind Acute Urinary Retention. (Neurologic Exam Critical).
October 15, 2001... SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. -- Attention to the common causes of acute urinary retention often will soon return voiding to normal, Dr. Deborah J. Lightner said at a urogynecology conference sponsored by the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale. "If the patient...

Sacral Nerve Stimulation Takes on Tough Cases. (Fecal Incontinence, Chronic Constipation).
October 15, 2001... SAN DIEGO -- Sacral nerve stimulation appears to be highly effective for the most intractable cases of fecal incontinence and chronic constipation, Dr. Ezio Ganio reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal...

Insulin Sensitizers and Weight. (Diabetes).
October 15, 2001... The combination of rosiglitazone (Avandia) and an amylose-free diet results in marked and sustained weight loss in non-diabetic hyperinsulinemic obese patients, Dr. Ritchie C. Shoemaker reported at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society....

Diabetes May Up Cancer Risk. (Diabetes).
October 15, 2001... People with diabetes might be more prone to certain types of cancer and/or cancer death, Linda C. Koo, Ph.D., said at the annual scientific sessions of the American Diabetes Association. In a literature review of 93 case-control and cohort...

Ginkgo Affects Anticoagulants. (Herbal Medicine).
October 15, 2001... Ginkgo biloba extract places patients taking anticoagulants at additional risk for bleeding, Dr. Adrian Fugh-Berman said at a meeting on botanical medicine sponsored by the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Ginkgo interferes with...

Herb for White Coat HT. (Herbal Medicine).
October 15, 2001... Consider lemon balm for patients with white coat or other forms of situational hypertension, Dr. Tieraona Low Dog said at a meeting on botanical medicine sponsored by the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. The patient who responds to...

Narrow Shoes Thicken Nails. (Infectious Diseases).
October 15, 2001... Onychogryphosis due to biomechanical trauma from narrow-toed shoes with secondary onychomycosis is a frequently missed diagnosis, Dr. C. Ralph Daniel III said at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology. Half of the nail...

Tattoo Blues: Hepatitis C. (Infectious Diseases).
October 15, 2001... Commercially obtained tattoos may be the source of twice as many cases of hepatitis C virus infection as are caused by injection drug use, according to a report by Dr. Robert W. Haley of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and...

More Vitamin C Needed. (Nutrition).
October 15, 2001... The recommended daily allowance of vitamin C for young healthy women should be increased to 90 mg, according to Dr. Mark Levine of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda,...

Selenium Eases Thyroiditis. (Nutrition).
October 15, 2001... Selenium supplementation reduces autoantibody concentrations in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and lowers disease activity, Dr. Barbara Gasnier reported at the annual meeting of the Endocrine Society. Results of a randomized...

Natrecor. (New & Approved: Natrecor * InSync Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy * Topamax).
October 15, 2001... (nesiritide, Scios Inc.) A recombinant form of human B-type natriuretic peptide (hBNP) for people with acutely decompensated congestive heart failure (CHF), with shortness of breath at rest or with minimal activity. This is the first new...

InSync Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) Device. (New & Approved: Natrecor * InSync Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy * Topamax).
October 15, 2001... (Medtronic Inc.) An implantable pacing device for resynchronizing the heart in patients with advanced CHF, the first pacemaker approved to treat CHF symptoms. Usage: A small pulse generator implanted below the shoulder is attached to...

Topamax. (New & Approved: Natrecor * InSync Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy * Topamax).
October 15, 2001... (topiramate, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc.) An anticonvulsant for add-on therapy in people aged 2 and older with seizures related to Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, the third anticonvulsant approved for this devastating form of epilepsy...

Doctors Suing Insurers Over Denied Claims. (Growing Trend).
October 15, 2001... WASHINGTON -- Physicians are getting bolder about challenging insurers over delayed or denied health care claims. Dr. John McMahan, an Illinois ear, nose, and throat physician, sued Employers Health Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Humana...

HIV in Women To Be Studied. (Three Sites Funded).
October 15, 2001... The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development has announced plans to fund three sites to conduct research on HIV infection in adolescent and adult women. The institute will provide the University of Washington in Seattle,...

Contraceptive Coverage Hearing. (Policy Practice).
October 15, 2001... Abortion rights advocates recently testified before a Senate committee in support of a bill requiring private health insurance to cover prescription contraceptives. Most Americans support requiring insurance companies to cover contraceptives,...

Stem Cell Report. (Policy Practice).
October 15, 2001... New stem cell lines will be necessary in the future for research purposes, a new report from the National Academy of Sciences says. The report's findings conflict with President Bush's earlier assertion that 64 stem cell lines would be...

More Women Uninsured. (Policy Practice).
October 15, 2001... The number of uninsured women is growing and may surpass the number of uninsured men in 5 years, a new report says. Women's greater eligibility for Medicaid has traditionally translated into slightly fewer women than men being uninsured, but...

Discount Cards Blocked. (Policy Practice).
October 15, 2001... A federal district court has granted a request for a preliminary injunction to halt the Bush administration's prescription discount card initiative. The card was proposed as a short-term drug benefit plan for seniors. Judge Paul Friedman of the...

Participant Protection. (Policy Practice).
October 15, 2001... Standards have been developed and released for the first external accreditation program to protect humans participating in research projects. The National Committee for Quality Assurance developed and will administer the program, which will...