Between 2008 and 2009, 30 states tried to reduce car crashes by enacting bans on text messaging while driving.
Policy & Industry
Surprise! Study Volunteers Discover Health Problems They Never Knew They Had
Volunteering to be part of a medical research study has risks and benefits. One risk most people don’t consider is the possibility that the trial will uncover some health problem you didn’t know you had.
Why Are Black Bikers More Likely to Die in Crashes than Whites?
Motorcycle accident–related fatalities account for 1 in every 8 deaths on the road. And a new study suggests that blacks are at higher risk than whites: for every two white motorcyclists who die in accidents, three of their …
Happy Insurance Regulation Day!
Today, some major health insurance regulations created by the Affordable Care Act kick in. These consumer protections have kind-hearted-sounding descriptions like “coverage for kids with pre-existing conditions,” but they come …
Want Good Health? There Are 10 Apps for That
O.K., granted, your smartphone’s signal might be increasing your risk of cancer, but if you download the right apps, your digital device can also be a health advantage. Healthland picked the 10 best wellness-inspiring apps for …
Salmonella-Tainted ‘Family Farm’ in the Spotlight — on Farm Aid’s 25th Anniversary
“We got big quite a while before we stopped acting like we were small,” said Austin “Jack” DeCoster, founder of Wright County Egg and the country’s eighth largest egg producer, during testimony Wednesday before the House Energy …
Confused About Health Reform? Help Is Here
On the whole, Americans don’t understand the Affordable Care Act (ACA) very well. After the jump, some proof of the confusion, as well as a helpful — and adorable — video tutorial that might help clear some things up.
Is There Still Hope for the Weight Loss Drug Qnexa?
Back in July, an FDA advisory panel voted not to recommend obesity drug Qnexa for government approval because of concerns about cardiovascular risks, memory loss and suicidal thoughts in people taking it, and potential harm to …
FDA Panel Can’t Make Heads or Tails of Genetically Modified Salmon
As you’ve probably heard by now, the first genetically engineered animal grown for food may soon be on the market. But not quite yet. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory panel assigned to assess the safety of the new …
Seagull Droppings in Drug Development? Why Not!
Researchers have all kinds of sophisticated ways of tracking antibiotic resistant bacteria. Like biological CSI investigators, they use the bugs’ genetic fingerprints and knowledge of their favorite host haunts to learn more …
Stalling On Food Safety
Breaches on food safety are so common these days, my eyes glaze over looking at the FDA’s recall list. In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 16,112 confirmed cases of foodborne illness, which amount to …
Why Being Poked and Prodded Is a Good Thing
Richard Knox had a great story on NPR today looking at how technologies are replacing the oldest form of doctoring – the physical exam. Knox’s reporting focuses on how modern medical training doesn’t emphasize the …
‘Frankenfish’ May Soon Be Spawning: Is Genetically Modified Salmon Safe?
I haven’t decided what to think about the controversial “Frankenfish,” the genetically modified salmon whose maker, Massachusetts-based AquaBounty Technologies, is seeking Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval — and seems …
