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The recent cases and legislation addressing the destruction of IVF embryos prompts revisiting past cases involving “child murder” in a medical context. Some cases turn on what is in the best interests of the child, while others pivot on the importance of preserving a child’s life, even if it involves terminating the life of another. Sometimes, religion gets involved. And this presents a conundrum.

There's a vital need for new and effective pain medications. Vertex just announced results from a Phase III study of its experimental drug VX-548. How well does the drug work? It's hard to tell. Here's why.

Benjamin Franklin's adage linking health and wealth has persisted through time, suggesting that financial security correlates with better health and increased lifespan. A recent study delves into this relationship, specifically exploring the impact of wealth inequality on longevity in the U.S. and considering potential increases in lifespan associated with reduced wealth inequality.

Reading and understanding legal decisions
Boeing is not the only company with a trust problem
Can bad science result in good regulation?
How much Vitamin D should you be taking?

The sci-fi world of Gattaca promised parents the option of selecting genetically bespoke children. Now you can buy a menu of tests prophesing your kids’ health risks – even before the embryo is implanted. Soon, we can expect tests for brains, brawn, and beauty. How do we even make that decision?

As the top editor of the journal Science, Thorp's inclusive view of scientists might be well-intentioned. But the crux of the matter lies in the difference between understanding and explaining the world (the scientist's realm) and applying that knowledge in the real world (the domain of application specialists).

In a recent New York Times essay, a professor of anesthesia and pain management recently protested the Drug Enforcement Administration's opioid manufacturing quotas and micromanagement of doctors treating their patients' pain. At a time when DEA S.W.A.T. teams frequently raid doctors' offices for "inappropriate" prescribing, the professor's essay demonstrated boldness. Unfortunately, the professor's reform proposals were much less bold.

What is it about humans that enables us to enjoy watching harm being inflicted on others? With the football season a few months away, perhaps a greater understanding of neurological harm associated with the game’s repetitive brain trauma is warranted.  And maybe we should do something rather than just sit by and watch?

Far too many scientific papers are being retracted from prestigious scientific journals because scientists fabricated or falsified data. Although no one defends scientific fraud, few recognize its long-lasting impacts on governmental policy and society.

The EPA recently announced stronger standards for fine particulate matter, described as reducing pollution by airborne "soot." However, an examination of its supporting documentation reveals a lack of focus on particulate composition, neglect of actual exposures – as well as no mention of any health effects of soot. Here we explore the implications of these shortcomings.

Xolair, an antibody asthma drug, was recently approved for severe food allergic reactions. It is not the first biological drug to treat multiple conditions. But it is the first to treat severe food allergies - a growing problem.

The standard argument for restricting patient access to pain medications is that these drugs frequently lead to addiction. A large body of research contradicts that claim, though it's doubly absurd when directed at people afflicted by terminal (and often very painful) illnesses. They sometimes have only weeks or months to live, yet they're denied pain medicine in the name of fighting opioid dependence. Such absurdity has to stop.

A new month, a new chemical to fear. Such is the business plan of the Environmental Working Group, an organization that I've been saying unflattering things about for years. Why? Because it usually deserves it. Let's look at a just-released EWG video, which shows the kinds of tricks those guys have been using (and fooling us with) forever.

For woodworkers, the table saw stands as both a revered tool and a potential danger. One saw, SawStop, uses an innovative technology to prevent the saw from cutting more than wood. The feds are now considering mandating this technology, provoking a web of industry interests and regulatory hurdles.

Nutritional epidemiology is notorious for producing sensational, conflicting results that confuse us all. We’re stuck with observational studies that can be twisted in countless ways to get different outcomes. Enter a new tool aiming to cut through this mess by testing all possible analytical choices and showing how flexible and unreliable these studies can be.

At some point in your life, you’ve heard debates about healthy eating, often emphasizing organic, non-GMO, fresh, and minimally processed foods. These discussions are frequently associated with health gurus who claim to have the secret to longevity through diet. However, this focus can overshadow other important food-related topics, such as contaminants.

For many years now, bariatric surgery reigned supreme as the gold standard for weight loss interventions. It offers profound and enduring results for patients battling obesity. However, the landscape has shifted with the advent of GLP-1 medications, raising questions about the economic viability of surgical practices.

Tort lawyers regularly bring litigation against pesticide companies, alleging that their products cause devastating diseases. Of course, our genetic makeup profoundly influences our risk for certain medical conditions, including those allegedly caused by pesticide exposure. Yet this reality rarely gets the attention it deserves in court. Let's take a closer look at the science the lawyers would rather ignore.

Academic journals, and the researchers who publish in them, are increasingly engaged in naked political advocacy rather than science. It's time we cut off public funding to peer-reviewed publications and reduce the number of academic scientists chasing after grant money.

Remember when doctors looked you in the eye, to build a connection beyond mere transactions? With the rise of ever-present screens, physicians are more engaged with pixels than patients. For those struggling with the digital shift, medical scribes have stepped in. But has this tech-driven change improved healthcare?

Noise is the second most common complaint among restaurant-goers. From the clinking of cutlery to the relentless chatter, restaurants have become veritable sound factories, making it challenging for patrons to hold a conversation, turning dining out into a shouting match. Striking the right balance in the soundscape is critical for a restaurant's success.

As social media platforms unleash a torrent of content, the battle against inaccuracies becomes increasingly daunting. Algorithms, touted as gatekeepers, have not worked. Can crowdsourced corrections stem the tide of misinformation?

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals criticized the South Dakota governor for shooting a farm dog. But PETA has killed far more.

The silver tsunami, or America's aging population, continues to flood the roads. For seniors who might be truckin’ with a bit of physical or cognitive impairment, there may be a rising tide of concern about road safety. Only a handful of states bother to make dementia diagnoses reportable. A new study suggests this may lead to fewer, not more, reports.

It all began with a grand experiment involving physicians, published in the hallowed pages of the New England Journal of Medicine: a nearly miraculous halving of heart attacks among those taking a low-dose aspirin. New studies have emerged, exploring the changing tides of benefits and harms.