Young doctors are seeking regular schedules, free time
June 14, 2008
A recent survey conducted by Merritt, Hawkins & Associates, a physician staffing firm based in Irving, Texas, found that for 63 percent of medical residents, a concern about a lack of free time was “significant” as they entered the profession in 2006, compared with 15 percent in 2001, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Justice Department, Congress probe Vytorin maker
June 13, 2008
The Department of Justice has joined federal lawmakers in seeking information about why it took drug makers so long to report the negative results of a study of the cholesterol drug Vytorin.
Congress urged to allow drug suits
June 13, 2008
Actor Dennis Quaid is urging lawmakers to push back against efforts by the Food and Drug Administration to preempt state drug safety tort claims against drugmakers. Read more
Genetic testing bill signed into law
June 13, 2008
President George W. Bush signed legislation in May designed to protect workers from losing their jobs or being denied health insurance based on DNA testing results that reveal their susceptibility to certain health conditions.
Hospitals rail against nurse-patient ratio
June 13, 2008
More than 100 hospital officials and nurse administrators have been pressing lawmakers to oppose a mandatory nurse-patient ratio at hospitals, enshrined in a bill they expect to be debated by the state Legislature.
State Senate approves gift ban
June 13, 2008
Resisting pressure from biopharmaceutical firms, the state Senate voted to ban gifts from the industry to doctors and other health care workers, with a $5,000 civil fine for a violation.
Critics said the measure, deemed the harshest in the nation, sends a mixed message to the pharmaceutical industry at a time when the state is trying to entice investment here.
Senate President Therese Murray’s bill also requires physicians to adopt an electronic medical records system by 2015, authorizes the Attorney General to enact antitrust immunity rules so that insurers and providers can collaborate, and requires public explanations of hefty year-to-year insurance premium increases.
Patients want input on health reform
June 13, 2008
Members of the advisory committee to one of the state boards implementing health care reform urged the panel to convene a group of patients and families to help guide their decisions.
State House foils amendment to ease Rx requirement
June 13, 2008
The state House rejected an attempt to ease the requirement that all adults obtain health insurance that includes prescription drug coverage.
One editor’s search for primary care
June 13, 2008
What I am about to confess is likely to surprise you. It might even make some of you as uncomfortable as it makes me. And it might even seem completely impossible – given that I edit a newspaper for nearly 20,000 health care professionals and I come from a family of physicians.
But the sad truth remains: I haven’t set foot in the office of a primary care doctor since the summer of 2003.
Ghostwriting dispute spooks researchers
June 13, 2008
Recent allegations that Merck used ghostwriters to write articles about Vioxx have left some experts saying that the practice could compromise the integrity of the scientific research system.
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