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So-called "play or pay" was designed as an incentive for pharmaceutical companies to engage, or to continue to be engaged in, antibiotic discovery and development.

Of course, not all causes and manners of death are within our control. Nor should we be so preoccupied with them that we avoid living. But the National Safety Council's annual report proves to be an interesting read, given a 5.3% increase in preventable-injury-related deaths.

Platelet-rich plasma is a growing part of "regenerative" medicine. It's natural, easily applied and a profit center for companies and physicians. But what remains unclear is whether its use is beneficial to patients.

One wonders how the anti-GMO movement could oppose something like this. But given its hostility to Golden Rice, which has been genetically modified to contain a vitamin A precursor to prevent blindness, it usually finds a way.

Can an algorithm prescribe a healthier diet? The short answer: Just a little better than the flip of a coin, or that
printed diet you found on the Internet.

The editorial board of the New York Times came out in favor of revising FDA regulations of cosmetic products. This is a reasonable suggestion since such a review has not taken place since 1938. But sound science, especially toxicology, is essential for any change in regulations to be meaningful. Unfortunately, on the science itself, the newspaper's proposal misses the mark.

Scientists from Mexico have discovered a very clever way of getting rid of HPV, the most common of all sexually transmitted infections. It's done using a simple chemical and a laser -- and there's no harm to normal cells. This method could represent a big advance in eradicating the virus and reducing HPV-related cancers, especially cervical cancer.

While we await a more comprehensive report, the preliminary findings imply nothing of consequence was discovered during the examination that would impede the president doing his job now, or in the foreseeable future.

Since bacteria, such as those that cause gonorrhea or gastrointestinal infections, are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics, scientists are searching for outside-the-box ideas to tackle the problem. They may have found in one in bacteriophage: viruses that exclusively infect and kill bacteria.

Twelve patients who tried stem cell injections were hospitalized with infections, according to a published report, one that should cause patients concern. More important is that they should investigate stem cell treatments, for conditions such as cartilage injuries to their joints, before committing to one of these procedures.

Hearts don’t open and minds don’t change when you yell at people. Or berate them. Or chastise them. Not with vaccination, or any other medical intervention.

Imagine if Dr. Oz -- who peddles all sorts of pseudoscientific, nonsensical miracle cures on his daytime TV show -- proposed an environmental policy. That's the Green New Deal.

You do not want to be in the shoes of chronic pain patient Iris Erlingsdottir. Iris has a rare, genetic form of arthritis, which is not treatable. But it is extremely painful. She describes some of what she has to go through to get relief. Just plain awful.

Can a physician's past professional deeds be forgotten? And if so, who gets to decide? If you ask the European Union, the answer is Google.

A Japanese official blamed the country's shrinking population on people who don't have children. The comment was a classic Kinsley gaffe, something that was obviously true but taboo to say, possibly because it's a touchy subject in Japan.

The name has nothing to do with fish, but there is a relationship with pigs. Salmonella actually refers to a species of bacteria that inhabit the intestines of people and animals, along with a large variety of other bacteria.

New research suggests that Americans may see scientists’ choice to accuse conservatives of waging a “war on science” as relatively aggressive. That's as compared to potential alternative ways of describing the current situation. This perceived aggressiveness may harm the credibility of scientists in conservative audiences that already have doubts about them.

Though Hollywood features can be quite dramatic, the real thing can provide much more entertainment.

Saturated fats are not one monolithic group. Understanding this makes us reconsider nutritional guidelines. So, consumed in moderation, ice cream is back on the menu.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science is one of the foremost pro-science organizations in the world. Not only does it advocate for good science and science policy, it publishes Science, the prestigious journal read globally by millions. Unfortunately, AAAS has gotten a bit weird in recent months.

For all the regulation of what's written in direct-to-consumer health ads (and for all the hand-wringing about informed consent), there's little said about what patients understand. As it turns out, health literacy is a problem. And those with the biggest problems are looking for help in all the wrong places.

Gwyneth Paltrow has a great career. Not many actors can match her cinematic résumé. So why she feels the need to become America's second-biggest health scam artist -- after Dr. Oz, of course -- is absolutely mind-boggling. Netflix will launch a series of health shows featuring Ms. Paltrow and her bogus claims this autumn. Doesn't she have enough money already?

Despite having yet to save a mouse, last week a company created headlines when it said that it would cure all cancers -- in a year. Let's clarify what promise actually exists in the field, and what hurdles still need to be overcome.

There's bad press coverage ... and then there's (expletive) press coverage. ABC's Milwaukee affiliate most certainly provided the latter, after reporting that less-addictive, over-the-counter drugs -- like Advil and Tylenol -- are three times more effective than some opioid counterparts. This is dead wrong. And neither Advil nor Tylenol is the slightest bit addicting. Aside from that ... way to nail the story WISN!

A new paper shares a different -- and perhaps, a better way -- of describing the outcome of care. It's more than alive or dead; it's about how much better patients are living their lives.