The one abortion law Democrats aren’t rushing to repeal
Megan Messerly and Alice Miranda Ollstein, Politico
As legislative sessions come to a close, state lawmakers are divided over whether children and teenagers should be able to have an abortion without telling their parents.
Pfizer RSV vaccine for infants has ‘generally favorable’ safety data, FDA staff say
Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC
The FDA staff made the conclusion in briefing documents ahead of a meeting on Thursday when a panel of external advisors to the agency will discuss whether to recommend full approval of the RSV shot.
Drug Shortages Near an All-Time High, Leading to Rationing
Christina Jewett, The New York Times
A worrisome scarcity of cancer drugs has heightened concerns about the troubled generic drug industry. Congress and the White House are seeking ways to address widespread supply problems.
Young Americans Are Dying at Alarming Rates, Reversing Years of Progress
Janet Adamy, The Wall Street Journal
For decades, advances in healthcare and safety steadily drove down death rates among American children. In an alarming reversal, rates have now risen to the highest level in nearly 15 years, particularly driven by homicides, drug overdoses, car accidents and suicides.
Comstock Act, 150-year-old law, may determine U.S. access to abortion
Dan Diamond and Ann E. Marimow, The Washington Post
The future of abortion access in the United States may soon depend on how courts interpret a 150-year-old law that hadn’t been applied for nearly a century — and whose author originally intended for some abortions to remain legal.
Republicans weigh changes to law meant to protect abortion access
Michael Macagnone, Roll Call
The chairman of a House Judiciary subcommittee said Tuesday that Republicans could pursue changes to a 1994 law meant to protect access to reproductive health care clinics.
Republican abortion debate inches toward resolution in South Carolina
James Pollard, The Associated Press
Abortions would be almost entirely banned after about six weeks of pregnancy under a bill debated early into Wednesday morning by the South Carolina House in a development that follows months of Republicans in the chamber insisting instead on a near-total ban that the state Senate recently rejected.
Suspected deadly fungal infections linked to surgery in Mexico
Lena H. Sun, The Washington Post
The CDC issued a travel advisory after five women developed meningitis after surgical procedures in the border city of Matamoros.
Walgreens sees benefit from CVS exiting clinical trial business
Anjalee Khemlani, Yahoo Finance
Walgreens is already benefiting from CVS winding down its efforts to conduct clinical trials in its retail locations.
Chronic pain is more common than diabetes or depression. Better treatments are emerging.
Aria Bendix, NBC News
People are developing new cases of chronic pain at higher rates than new diagnoses of diabetes, depression or high blood pressure, according to a study published Tuesday.
Weight-loss drugs and surgery for kids leave parents with tough decisions
Yuki Noguchi, NPR News
New drugs like semaglutide — approved for weight loss under the brand Wegovy — tamp down hunger and boost metabolism; adolescent bariatric surgery achieves similar results. Both treatments were added early this year to the American Academy of Pediatrics’ recommended treatment guidelines for children as young as 12 or 13 — acknowledging the increasing threat of the disease in children.
Cops say they’re being poisoned by fentanyl. Experts say the risk is ‘extremely low’
Brian Mann, NPR News
Police officers regularly report being poisoned or overdosing after encountering trace amounts of fentanyl on the job. Experts say it’s not happening.
NIH seeks to unlock secrets of how our bodies respond to food
Tina Reed, Axios
Federal researchers are launching a major study of how genes, lifestyle and other factors influence how the body responds to diet, to come up with better interventions when it comes to what we eat.
The fraught fight to stop the trans healthcare bans
Emma Hurt et al., Axios
Across the country, Democratic lawmakers in GOP states have struggled to stop an onslaught of bills restricting gender-affirming health care for transgender minors.
How a Few Stories of Regret Fuel the Push to Restrict Gender Transition Care
Maggie Astor, The New York Times
In the campaign to ban gender therapies for minors, Republicans have amplified a group of activists who no longer identify as transgender, overriding objections from transgender people and medical experts.
Elizabeth Holmes Loses Bid for Bail at Appeals Court
Joel Rosenblatt, Bloomberg
Elizabeth Holmes lost her final request to remain free on bail while she appeals her fraud conviction.