Giant Supermarkets Gives Away Generic Antibiotics

The chain is the latest to promote new offerings of inexpensive -- in this case, free -- generics.

Blagojevich’s Would-Be Senator Burris on Health Care

Roland Burris has criticized drug-company profits and fought a cut in Medicaid payment rates during his long political career.

Equivocal Data on Plavix Flummox FDA, Doctors

The FDA is considering a label update as new studies come to different conclusions about Plavix's effect on patients.

FDA Panel to Weigh Fate of Heart Drug Prasugrel in February

Approval of Lilly's anti-clotting drug prasugrel has been delayed twice this year. Now a February date has been set for a panel meeting to mull the medicine in public.

Harvard Psychiatrist Biederman Stops Industry-Funded Work Amid Probe

Sen. Charles Grassley has accused the prominent child psychiatrist of failing to disclose payments from drugmakers.

Bayer to Abbott: You Owe Us for Humira

Arguing that the drug infringes on its patent, Bayer is seeking damages in federal court.

NY Health Chief Takes Soda-Tax Pitch to YouTube

High-minded arguments meet low production values.

Listening to Patients With Foreign Accent Syndrome

What patients sound like when they're struck with an ailment that makes them seem to be foreign speakers of their native language.

A Holiday Ritual: Rushing to See the Doctor

Your health insurance deductible is about to reset. Any last-minute procedures you need before the new year?

Fighting Equipment Fraud, Medicare Amps Up Rules for Suppliers

Medicare has struggled to control billing fraud among companies that claim to supply medical equipment such as wheelchairs.

State Docs Could Get Tax Break for Treating Medicaid Patients

The bill aims to make it easier for Medicaid recipients to find health care.

Fighting Equipment Fraud, Medicare Amps Up Rules for Suppliers

Medicare has struggled to control billing fraud among companies that claim to supply medical equipment such as wheelchairs.

Could We Possibly Want Obama to Sneak a Cigarette in a Crisis?

Heavy smokers can experience cognitive problems when they stop, but there's little evidence that those symptoms occur in people who have smoked less frequently.

Bariatric Surgery Eases Diabetes in Obese Teens

A study in the journal Pediatrics shows evidence of remission of diabetes among severely obese teens who underwent weight-loss surgery.

OSHA Backed Off Workplace Health Warnings Under Bush

From 2001 to the end of 2007, OSHA officials issued 86% fewer regulations termed "economically significant" than were issued during a similar period under the Clinton administration.

Bariatric Surgery Eases Diabetes in Obese Teens

A study in the journal Pediatrics shows evidence of remission of diabetes among severely obese teens who underwent weight-loss surgery.

OSHA Backed Off Workplace Health Warnings Under Bush

From 2001 to the end of 2007, OSHA officials issued 86% fewer regulations termed "economically significant" than were issued during a similar period under the Clinton administration.

Confidentiality of Psychiatric Manual’s Update Draws Gripes

For the first time, contributors to an update of an important manual of psychiatric disorders must sign a nondisclosure agreement.

Why Insurers Pay Certain Massachusetts Hospitals More

Partners HealthCare, the umbrella over Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's hospitals, tends to get heftier fees from insurers than other hospitals in the area.

Viagra: The CIA’s Secret Weapon in Afghanistan

Sometimes, the little blue pill is just the thing for winning over the support of the locals.

Why Insurers Pay Certain Massachusetts Hospitals More

Partners HealthCare, the umbrella over Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's hospitals, tends to get heftier fees from insurers than other hospitals in the area.

Viagra: The CIA’s Secret Weapon in Afghanistan

Sometimes, the little blue pill is just the thing for winning over the support of the locals.

Want Longer, Fuller Eyelashes? There’s a Drug for That!

The FDA approved an Allergan drug for eyelashes.

Harvard Researcher Tied to Shaklee ‘Anti-Aging Tonic’ Vivix

David Sinclair was a paid advisor to Shaklee, which sold what it called the "world's best anti-aging supplement." He now disputes the use of his name and words to promote the supplement, Vivix.

As States Cut Medicaid, Feds Mull Funding Increase

Government health insurance for the poor is being cut in states around the country. Under the Obama adminstration, more federal money could soon be on the way.

Vietnam Pushes Back Against AIDS Epidemic

Amid a growing epidemic, the government is changing its stance toward some drug users.

Santa Got His Annual Checkup; Should You Have One too?

Some argue that even if your insurer pays for an annual exam, it may be a waste of your time and the country's precious health resources.

Glaxo’s Best-Laid Plans for a Flu Pandemic

If your company makes a vaccine to be used in case of a flu pandemic, you'd better hope your workers don't get sidelined by the bug.

Stark Blasts Insurers as the ‘General Motors of Medical Care Delivery’

Pete Stark, influential House Democrat, said he thinks insurers want Democrats to fail on health reform.

Massachusetts Biotech CEO Fined for Ethics Violation

Robert K. Coughlin was working on business development for the state while pursuing a job as head of the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council.

FDA Frowns on ‘Plus’ in Diet Coke Label

The FDA warned Coca-Cola that Diet Coke Plus violates federal law because it doesn't meet the criteria to make a nutrient claim.

Millions of Older Americans at Risk from Drug Interactions

Researchers found red flags raised by combinations of prescription drugs, over-the-counter meds and dietary supplements.

FDA Frowns on ‘Plus’ in Diet Coke Label

The FDA warned Coca-Cola that Diet Coke Plus violates federal law because it doesn't meet the criteria to make a nutrient claim.

Millions of Older Americans at Risk from Drug Interactions

Researchers found red flags raised by combinations of prescription drugs, over-the-counter meds and dietary supplements.

FDA Frowns on ‘Plus’ in Diet Coke Label

The FDA warned Coca-Cola that Diet Coke Plus violates federal law because it doesn't meet the criteria to make a nutrient claim.

Michael Jackson May Need Lung Transplant

The pop star reportedly suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

Under Grassley’s Glare, Emory’s Nemeroff Gives Up Psychiatry Chair

A prominent researcher in clinical depression, Nemeroff has been hit by a steady stream of criticism since Sen. Charles Grassley first alleged he failed to disclose hundreds of thousands in payments from GlaxoSmithKline.

Economy Be Damned: I’m Getting My Botox

Despite the recession, plastic surgeons say demand is just fine for Botox, dermal fillers used to plump up lips and smile lines, and skin-smoothing chemical peels.

FDA Warns Diet Pills Contain Risky Prescription Drugs

The agency said more than 25 over-the-counter diet products contained undeclared prescription drugs that could harm people.

Ex-Cedars-Sinai Worker Charged With Identity Theft, Insurance Fraud

The man allegedly set up a fake lab company and then used the names of workers' compensation beneficiaries to submit claims for lab services that were never rendered.

Top Hazards From Medical Devices in Hospitals

Problems with alarms, needlesticks and air embolisms top the list of hazards compiled by a group that monitors patient safety.

Top 10 Hazards From Medical Devices in Hospitals

Problems with alarms, needlesticks and air embolisms top the list of hazards compiled by a group that monitors patient safety.

Maryland Hospitals Take Patients to Court over Unpaid Bills

Hospitals say they sue patients who can afford to pay and ignore collection efforts.

Cheap Generics Get Patients in the Pharmacy Door

Walgreen says that 30% of the members in its prescription savings club are people new to its pharmacies.

NCI Chief Niederhuber Wants to Stay On Under Obama

John Niederhuber came to the National Cancer Institute three years ago. Now, he wants to stick around despite being a Bush appointee to the top job.

FDA Drug Approvals Inch Upward in 2008

FDA approvals of new drugs this year are expected to narrowly exceed the 18 first-of-a-kind medicines given the green light in 2007.

Elsevier Looks Into Charge of Ghostwriting by Wyeth

The medical publisher is looking into whether an article it published about hormone-replacement therapy was actually penned by ghostwriters.

Companies Play Catch-Up on Colon Cancer Drug Supply

Teva says its customer demand rose, while Bedford says an expansion of its manufacturing facilities has caused delays.

Elan CEO Defends Tysabri Sales, Citing ‘Good Progress’

It's been a tough year for Elan shareholders. Company CEO Kelly Martin says he's working on a turnaround.

Companies Play Catch-Up on Colon Cancer Drug Supply

Teva says its customer demand rose, while Bedford says an expansion of its manufacturing facilities has caused delays.

Elan CEO Defends Tysabri Sales, Citing ‘Good Progress’

It's been a tough year for Elan shareholders. Company CEO Kelly Martin says he's working on a turnaround.

Mercury-Laden Sushi Sidelines Piven From ‘Speed-the-Plow’

Jeremy Piven's doctor says a twice-a-day sushi habit and Chinese herbs led to high mercury in the actor's blood.

California Surgeon Cleared of Hastening Organ Donor’s Death

Prosecutors alleged that a transplant surgeon acted inappropriately by giving a donor patient excessive doses of drugs so that he would die quickly. A jury decided otherwise.

Bush Administration Adds ‘Conscience’ Rule on Abortion

The Bush administration has made official a new rule that gives health workers more room to refuse to participate in care, including abortions, they find morally objectionable.

California Surgeon Cleared of Hastening Organ Donor’s Death

Prosecutors alleged that a transplant surgeon acted inappropriately by giving a donor patient excessive doses of drugs so that he would die quickly. A jury decided otherwise.

Bush Administration Adds ‘Conscience’ Rule on Abortion

The Bush administration has made official a new rule that gives health workers more room to refuse to participate in care, including abortions, they find morally objectionable.

How to Find a Five-Star Nursing Home

The federal government has unveiled an online ratings guide, but critics say it misses the mark.

Advocates for New FDA Chief Overlook Independence from Industry

A newly formed coalition seeks an FDA chief who can withstand some kinds of outside pressure, but doesn't mention pressure from industry.

MillerCoors Drops Caffeine From Sparks Drinks

The beer giant is backing away from brews that combine alcohol and caffeine in the face of allegations by a number of state attorneys general and consumer groups that it was targeting underage drinkers.

Grassley Blasts Emory over ‘CME-Like’ Defense of Nemeroff

In explaining why psychiatrist Charles Nemeroff failed to report payments from GlaxoSmithKline, Emory University told Sen. Grassley some of the payments were “CME-like.”

MillerCoors Drops Caffeine From Sparks Drinks

The beer giant is backing away from brews that combine alcohol and caffeine in the face of allegations by a number of state attorneys general and consumer groups that it was targeting underage drinkers.

Grassley Blasts Emory over ‘CME-Like’ Defense of Nemeroff

In explaining why psychiatrist Charles Nemeroff failed to report payments from GlaxoSmithKline, Emory University told Sen. Grassley some of the payments were “CME-like.”

Doctors Plead for 10% Medicare Bonus in Stimulus Package

Move over Detroit, the doctors want a slice of the economic stimulus.

Blagojevich, a Children’s Hospital and Medicaid’s Stingy Ways

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's alleged shakedown of a children's hospital in Chicago hinged on an effort to increase pay for specialists under Medicaid.

Commonwealth Fund Rates Hospitals Online to Spur Improvement

The new site is meant to help hospitals compare performance and find resources for raising quality.

Why the U.S. Spends So Much on Health Care

The U.S. spends $650 billion a year more on health care than you'd expect for a country with our GDP. A new McKinsey report tries to explain why.

Aetna Cuts 1,000 Jobs

The move comes as the health insurer projects much slower earnings growth next year.

CyberKnife for Prostate Cancer: Geography Is Destiny

Medicare pays for the high-tech prostate cancer treatment in some parts of the country, but not in others.

First Face Transplant Performed in U.S. at Cleveland Clinic

A Cleveland Clinic surgeon replaced 80% of a woman's face with a transplant from a cadaver.

Epilepsy Drugs Get Suicide Warning

The warning applies to well-known drugs sold by the likes of Pfizer, J&J and GlaxoSmithKline.

Federal Court Denies Teen Experimental Muscular Dystrophy Drug

PTC Therapeutics doesn't have to give its experimental medicine to a teenager suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy, a federal appeals court ruled.

Leucovorin Shortage Hampers Chemo for Colorectal Cancer

Some patients are being forced to go without leucovorin, an generic drug often used to treat colon cancer.

Bristol-Myers to Cut Another 10% of Workers

It's the latest in a seemingly endless procession of drug-industry cutbacks.

Dennis Quaid Settles With Hospital Over Medication Error

The actor-turned-activist still has a suit pending against Baxter.

Nobel Laureate Calls for Public Funding of Drug Trials

Joseph Stiglitz has a few ideas for encouraging pharmaceutical innovation while keeping costs down.

Doubts Grow Over High-Tech CT Scans of Heart

It may be premature to use CT scans to screen patients for heart disease, a new study suggests.

Madoff Collapse Hits Bone Marrow Foundation, Hospital

The health world isn't immune from the Madoff imbroglio.

A Hidden Cost in Medicare Drug Benefit: ‘Reference-Based Pricing’

Seniors who insist on brand-name drugs when generics are available may wind up paying a high price.

Singapore Seeks Spot on Medical Tourism Itinerary

The city-state is marketing itself as a destination for surgeries and procedures that are too costly or can't be done as well in other countries.

A High Court Win for David Frederick, Short-Lister for Solicitor General

The lawyer from Kellogg Huber represented Maine smokers who argued that federal regulation shouldn't preempt their right to sue cigarette makers for unfair marketing under state law.

Singapore Seeks Spot on Medical Tourism Itinerary

The city-state is marketing itself as a destination for surgeries and procedures that are too costly or can't be done as well in other countries.

A High Court Win for David Frederick, Short-Lister for Solicitor General

The lawyer from Kellogg Huber represented Maine smokers who argued that federal regulation shouldn't preempt their right to sue cigarette makers for unfair marketing under state law.

Despite the Hype, Patients’ Use of Retail Clinics Is ‘Modest’

Only 2.3% of American families had used a retail clinic as of last year.

UCLA Cleared by HHS for Giving Organs to Japanese

UCLA Medical Center is in the clear for giving scarce liver transplants to a powerful gang boss and three other patients with ties to organized crime in Japan.

Breast Cancer Risk Falls After Stopping Hormone-Replacement Therapy

An analysis of data from the Women's Health Initiative study suggests that risk of breast cancer risk associated with hormone therapy declines once women stop taking the drugs.

Is the Problem Primary Care or Small Medical Practices?

Doctors who go solo or have just a few partners have high overhead and scant bargaining power with insurers.

Athenahealth’s Bush Says Don’t Make Health IT Reform a Bailout

An online entrepreneur argues for a flexible approach to computerizing health records and information.

Democrats Weave Health Funding Into Stimulus Package

Democrats are angling to get funding for Medicaid, health information technology and Cobra into next month's economic stimulus package.

Democrats Weave Health Funding Into Stimulus Package

Democrats are angling to get funding for Medicaid, health information technology and Cobra into next month's economic stimulus package.

Hospitals Spar With Pennsylvania Governor Over Medical Malpractice

A hospitals group is asking a court to require Pennsylvania's governor to extend funding for a program that helps pay for malpractice insurance.

Hospitals Spars With Pennsylvania Governor Over Medical Malpractice

A hospitals group is asking a court to require Pennsylvania's governor to extend funding for a program that helps pay for malpractice insurance.

How Many Negative Drug Studies Still Go Unpublished?

There are efforts to get drugmakers to disclose more trial results, but researchers find lots of studies with negative findings still go unpublished.

Why an FDA Panel Saw Asthma Drugs Differently

Serevent and Foradil, shouldn't be used for asthma anymore, and two other drugs, Advair and Symbicort, should remain an option, an FDA advisory panel recommended.

Nonprofit Hospital Pays Price for Pursuing Charitable Mission

Chicago's Mount Sinai Hospital teeters between annual losses and thin net income as it cares for patients on Medicaid or without insurance.

Who Is Joshua Sharfstein?

The 39-year-old is Baltimore's health commissioner and his name has been mentioned as possible nominees for FDA commissioner.

Private Medicare Advantage Plans Take Heat for Profits

Private Medicare Advantage plans pulled in $1.3 billion more in profits than projected in 2006.

Teens Favor Painkillers, Alcohol and Marijuana Over Stimulants

Nearly 10% of high school seniors reported using Vicodin for non-medical purposes in the year before taking the survey, while the use of some stimulants continued a gradual decline.

In Naming Daschle for HHS, Obama Pushes Health Reform

Obama said health reform must be "intimately woven into our overall economic recovery plan."

Massachusetts Disclosure Rules Stop Short on Doctor Pay for Research

Proposed rules in Massachusetts wouldn't doctors to require reveal payments from industry for research.

Doctors Say Testing of New Defibrillator Connector is Inadequate

Stung by past problems with the wires that connect implantable defibrillators to the heart, two cardiologists are arguing that a new kind of connector should be tested in humans before hitting the market.

Besides HHS, Daschle to Oversee Health Reform Office

Tom Daschle is expected to officially get President-elect Barack Obama's nod as secretary of Health and Human Services today.

Alternative Therapies Have Gone Mainstream

Some 38% of adults and nearly 12% of children aged 17 and below use some form of complementary and alternative medicine, according to new survey findings.

As Congress Circles, PhRMA Beefs Up Drug Ad Guidelines

The trade group suggests, among other things, that drug ads disclose when actors are playing doctors and when actual doctors are paid for their endorsements.

Alzheimer’s Groups Disagree on Screening for Memory Problems

The Alzheimer's Foundation of America says screening the elderly makes sense now, but the Alzheimer's Association disagrees, arguing research is lacking on the validity of simple tests.

Hospitals Tap Credit Bureaus to Gauge Patients’ Ability to Pay

Experian said it had agreed to acquire SearchAmerica, a company that helps hospitals assess the likelihood that patients will pay their medical bills.

Cash-Strapped Biotech Firms Head to Congress for Help

The industry wants government money now in exchange for giving up tax breaks later.

Freelancers Union Takes Health Insurance In-House

A nonprofit group for independent workers has moved into the health insurance business to control rising costs.

The Price Is Right for Weight Loss

Participants given financial incentives in a weight-loss study had more success shedding pounds.

Waxman Maps Health Agenda for Next Congress

Health reform can be done, Rep. Henry Waxman said. Also high on his list of priorities is creating a regulatory pathway for generic biotech medicines and cracking down on drug marketing.

From the ‘Worst’ to ‘Least Bad’ on Fast Food Value Menus

A junior bacon cheeseburger from Jack in the Box ranked as the fast-food value item worst for health.

Drugmakers Tap the Breaks on Ad Spending

Drug ad spending dropped 6% in the first eight months of 2008.

When Medical Scans Muddy Treatment Decisions

Diagnostic images sometimes show results that cause anxiety but aren't clinically meaningful.

Drugmakers Tap the Breaks on Ad Spending

Drug ad spending dropped 6% in the first eight months of 2008.

When Medical Scans Muddy Treatment Decisions

Diagnostic images sometimes show results that cause anxiety but aren't clinically meaningful.

Merck Jumps Into Generic Biotech

The drugmaker sees a "significant opportunity" from the expiration of patents on some biotech blockbusters between now and 2017.

Medicare Patients Struggle to Find Primary Care Docs

Some primary care doctors are refusing to take new Medicare patients because of worries about the pay.

Emphasis on Risk May Scare Patients Away From Treatment

A glut of information about drug risks may be overloading consumers and causing some to stop taking drugs they need.

New York Turns Up Heat on Drugstores Selling Expired Goods

Rite Aid settled charges with New York's attorney general over the alleged sale of expired goods. The state filed suit against CVS, which hasn't settled, on similar charges.

Dogs Go Green, With Envy, Over Treats

Scientists in Austria found that dogs grew resentful if their owners repeatedly got rewarded for the pups' good behavior but the animals didn't also win a treat.

After Pfizer Layoff, Friends, Family & ‘Extreme Makeover’ Lend Hands

After the drugmaker laid off Thomas Girard last year, his family fell behind on mortgage payments, endured two deaths and then their house burned to the ground.

Dogs Go Green, With Envy, Over Treats

Scientists in Austria found that dogs grew resentful if their owners repeatedly got rewarded for the pups' good behavior but the animals didn't also win a treat.

After Pfizer Layoff, Friends, Family & ‘Extreme Makeover’ Lend Hands

After the drugmaker laid off Thomas Girard last year, his family fell behind on mortgage payments, endured two deaths and then their house burned to the ground.

Ted Kennedy Drops Judiciary Post to Focus on Health Reform

The Massachusetts senator and his staff have spent months meeting with interest groups and developing a national health-care plan.

After the Cookie Company Crumbled, Employees Joined the Uninsured

When Archway & Mother's Cookie Co. went bankrupt in October, there wasn't enough money to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding health-care claims of employees and their families.

Ted Kennedy Drops Judiciary Post to Focus on Health Reform

The Massachusetts senator and his staff have spent months meeting with interest groups and developing a national health-care plan.

After the Cookie Company Crumbled, Employees Joined the Uninsured

When Archway & Mother's Cookie Co. went bankrupt in October, there wasn't enough money to cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in outstanding health-care claims of employees and their families.

Emergency Room Workers Say Problems Are Rampant

The majority of staffers surveyed said their ERs consistently lack sufficient space to deliver patient care, with a third saying the number of patients consistently exceeds their capacity to provide safe care.

Uncle Sam, Secret Medicare Shopper

Mystery shoppers working for the government found that some insurance companies weren't giving out full information on deductibles, restrictions and co-pays for private Medicare plans.

Plan B, FDA Delays and Janet Woodcock

Now, as the search for a new FDA Commissioner heats up, Janet Woodcock, an agency insider who's in the running for the post, would like you to know that she wasn't responsible for the delays in the morning-after pill.

Happy People Make Good Neighbors

Being surrounded by cheery souls, can give you a sunnier disposition, even if you don't know them, researchers say.

Patients Face Marijuana Mess in Michigan

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes became legal in Michigan on Thursday, but a legislative snafu means patients found in the possession of the drug could face arrest and prosecution.

Daschle Suggests Decking Halls With Health Reform

Former Sen. Tom Daschle wants Americans to brainstorm about how to overhaul the health-care system at holiday parties this year.

AARP Disclosures on Health Insurance Draw Scrutiny

AARP collected almost $498 million in fees and royalties for insurance endorsements last year, Bloomberg reports, which could raise potential conflicts.

Glaxo Returns to Court in Fight Over Patent Procedures

The drugmaker will carry the legal flag for Big Pharma and other patent-intensive industries in a fight with the patent office over procedural changes.

Insured Consumers Can Get Zapped by ‘Balance Billing’

Patients can get dinged by big bills if their insurer refuses to pay out-of-network doctors even when they're treated in a hospital that's part of the insurance plan.

Fertility Patients Frozen by Indecision Over Extra Embryos

Around half a million embryos currently lie frozen in fertility clinics around the country. Many patients can't figure out what to do with theirs.

Merck Lets Down Wall Street Again

While disappointing the news wasn't a complete surprise, given a foreign exchange "headwind" and the drug industry's general troubles.

Michigan’s Largest Health Insurer Sings Financial Blues

Detroit’s auto makers aren't the only ones in Michigan seeking the government's helping hand. Michigan’s largest health insurer is looking for financial relief too.

More Job Cuts at Sanofi, This Time in the US

In October Sanofi-Aventis slashed its sales force in France, now the company is wielding the ax in the U.S.

Merck Seeks to Regain Industry Leadership, but Shares Languish

Once hailed as an American business icon and a trailblazer in the global pharmaceutical industry, Merck is stuck in the doldrums.

Medical Device Ads on YouTube Violate FDA Rules, Group Says

The Prescription Project says YouTube videos for medical devices made by Abbott, Medtronic and Stryker don't contain required warnings and disclosures.

As NICE and the U.K. Go, So Goes the Globe in Evaluating Drugs

The U.K.'s tough standards for evaluating medical technology's cost-effectiveness are winning favor of national governments around the world.

Genentech Carries On, as Roche Deal Simmers on Back Burner

People still want to work at Genentech because they believe in the company and its mission, an exec says. Likewise, deals with other biotech keep rolling despite uncertainty about Roche's bid.

Problems in Primary Care Drive ER Crowding

Nobody likes to go to the ER, but for a growing number of Americans with health insurance it’s often the speediest way to get treated. There are some possible remedies, but will they provide a cure?

Medtronic Hit With Patient Lawsuit Over Bone-Stimulator Infuse

The family of a California woman alleges the company urged off-label use of Infuse in her neck seven weeks after the FDA had warned doctors not to do so.

UnitedHealth Will Now Sell Your Insurance for Insurance

The health insurance giant now offers a product that guarantees people's ability to buy health insurance in the future, even if they get sick.

Medical Residents Need More Breaks To Prevent Errors

Do doctors-in-training need more time off? The Institute of Medicine thinks so after a 15-month analysis of the relationship between residents' work schedules and the quality of care.

Big Pharma Execs Say Recession Will Hurt; DTC Was ‘Worst Decision’

No one is immune to the economic downturn –- even large pharmaceutical companies.

Big Pharma Execs Say Recession Will Hurt; DTC Ads Were ‘Worst Decision’

No one is immune to the economic downturn –- even large pharmaceutical companies.

States Seek Slice of Federal Bailout for Medicaid

If Congressional Democrats have their way, the next in line for a handout will be Medicaid, the health program for the poor, that's straining state budgets across the country.

NY Hospital Draws Mayor’s Ire Over Plaxico Burress Gunshot Wound

Who didn’t call the cops? That’s what New York’s Mayor and the city’s Deputy Police Chief would like to know after a New York Hospital failed to immediately report that Plaxico Burress was brought in with a gunshot wound.

Half of U.S. Spending on Health Care May Be Wasted

The US spends more than $2 trillion dollars a year on health care, but experts reckon that as much as half of the money is doing nothing to improve the health of Americans.

Nations Mark 20th World AIDS Day, Face Different Challenges

While AIDS has been controlled in many parts of the developed world, the war against the illness is far from over.

UnitedHealth Takes On Microsoft, Google With Online Health Venture

The health insurer offers an online service that allows consumers to create their own personal health records online.

Early Retirees Get Clobbered By High Health Insurance Costs

The cost of health coverage for early retirees presents a significant hurdle. Premiums may triple overnight -- and that's for the lucky ones who can get insurance.

J&J To Get Mentor In Billon-Dollar Breast Implant Deal

The baby-powder company is making a bold move into the beauty business with the announcement of billion-dollar deal to acquire Mentor, a leading maker of breast implants.

Overseas Clinical Trials Are Under the Microscope

Studies conducted by western drug companies in developing nations are drawing scrutiny.

Swiss Voters Send Mixed Messages On Heroin, Marijuana

While Americans spent the weekend trying to figure out what to do with Thanksgiving leftovers, the Swiss voted to make a heroin-prescription program permanent and against decriminalizing marijuana for personal use.

Latest Postmortem on Torcetrapib Leaves Hope for HDL Boosters

Two years after Pfizer lost its big bet on a drug to raise good cholesterol, scientists are finding that the results that doomed that medicine may not consign similar experimental drugs to failure.