The Medical Freedom Channel

This is an interesting little book … each page is almost completely hilarious (if you like, um, “bathroom humor”), although the intention is also to impart health info. (posted 08/15/07)

http://tinyurl.com/3cl8km

Date: ongoing

“Health policy experts who have followed and studied the State Children’s Health Insurance Program since its inception will offer their views on reauthorization proposals before Congress during a news conference and policy briefing this Thursday at 10:00 a.m. on Capitol Hill. Please join us to hear perspectives on current proposals and their implications from experts affiliated with the think tanks, including Bob Helms of the American Enterprise Institute, Gail Wilensky of Project Hope, Eugene Steuerle of the Urban Institute, Michael Tanner of the Cato Institute, Steve Entin of the Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation, Grace-Marie Turner of the Galen Institute, Nina Owcharenko of The Heritage Foundation, Jim Frogue of the Center for Health Transformation, and others.” Thursday, August 2, 10:00 a.m., Room 1416, Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C.

http://www.galen.org/statehealth.asp?docID=1042

Date: August 2, 2007

The case of Richard Paey, a chronic pain patient who is currently serving a mandatory 25 year prison sentence for illegally obtaining pain medications, demonstrates how an individual can be driven to desperate and questionable measures to find relief from pain. The National Pain Foundation believes Richard Paey deserves clemency in his sentence because, morally, individuals should not be pushed into taking questionable or illegal actions to achieve adequate relief for uncontrolled pain. The National Pain Foundation does not condone, encourage, or approve of illegal actions by anyone for the purposes of obtaining relief of pain, and does believe a person has to be held accountable for his or her illegal actions. However, because the court found no intent on the part of Mr. Paey to sell, divert, or profit from any of his medications, the National Pain Foundation also believes that the mandatory 25 year sentence is excessive. Send a letter or an e-mail in support of Mr. Paey to: Office of Executive Clemency, 2601 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-2450 (850) 488-2952. For background info, see: http://tinyurl.com/yrxpuj or http://tinyurl.com/gmzlj … then email the governor at: (posted 07/27/07)

ClemencyWeb@fpc.state.fl.us

Date: Ongoing

“In a new investigation of 784 name-brand sunscreens, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found widespread evidence that many products on the market are not safe and effective, including one of every eight high-SPF sunscreens that does not protect from UVA radiation. We have also identified 129 products that offer very good sun protection with ingredients that present minimal health risks to users. More Americans than ever are using sunscreen to protect from sunburn and guard against skin cancer. Top choices include products with high SPF ratings, and that are waterproof or that advertise “broad spectrum” protection. Most people trust that the claims on the bottle will ensure that the product truly protects their health and their families’. Nothing could be less certain.” (06/21/07)

http://tinyurl.com/yqnzx6

Date: ongoing

Congressman Ron Paul, M.D. [R-TX] has introduced a very important piece of legislation called the Health Freedom Protection Act, HR 2117. This act protects your right to know the truth about the positive effects natural products can have for you. The FDA currently restricts truthful information (Called “health claims”) to “structure function claims”. This means that you are not permitted to hear what scientists or clinical experience have to say about a supplement. … [T]he FDA applies a totally biased standard to health claims BASED IN SCIENCE to supplements. Dr. Paul says this is unfair and violates your health freedom. Please take a moment to go to the special page set up to allow you to send your comments and ask your Congressman to become a co-sponsor of this important pro-health freedom legislation. (06/18/07)

http://tinyurl.com/29xcwj

Date: ongoing

Your humble editor [also Rational Review (and Progressive) News Digest editor] Steve Trinward joins host Pat Gorman on Free Market News Network’s new “Wake Up America” Internet radio program. The topic: How individuals, as well as business owners, can drive real health care reform by opting out of traditional forms of health insurance (aka “insulation”), and forging their own pathways to prevention and wellness. Noon Eastern time on Free Market News Network. [live stream] (05/24/07)

http://fmnn.com/pat-Gorman.asp

“With all the new advances in birth control, are women really using the contraception option that works best for their current lifestyle and lifestage? The National Women’s Health Resource Center (NWHRC) has just launched its new Contraception Corner within their online Reproductive Health Center to help women navigate through the latest choices and determine the best birth control choice for them. The Contraception Corner features articles, an expert question and answer column and an interactive tool kit that includes information on [multiple topics]. (posted 05/17/07)

http://www.healthywomen.org/contraception

Date: ongoing

“Rep. Ron Paul (along with Reps. Rosco Bartlett, Dan Burton, John Duncan and Christopher Shays) has reintroduced the Health Freedom Protection Act, H.R. 2117. This is a true health-freedom bill that the NHF has lobbied for, and it deserves the support of the health-freedom community. For years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have continued to censor and engage in heavy-handed attempts to restrict access to supplements and educational information for Americans. This bill would stop the FDA from censoring truthful claims about the curative, mitigative, or preventative effects of dietary supplements. A grass-roots advocacy letter-writing campaign is needed to help the NHF’s lobbying efforts to educate Congressional members on the need for this legislation…. As of May 2, 2007, the bill has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. Click link for more information, to send letters to Congress, or to download the bill.” (posted 05/17/07)

www.thenhf.com/government_affairs_federal.html

Date: ongoing

“The FDA has moved the deadline from April 30, 2007 to May 29, 2007 for public comments to the FDA document 2006D-0480 - Draft Guidance for Industry on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Products and Their Regulation by the Food and Drug Administration. This extension provides us time to execute the most effective strategy, which is to prepare and deliver a reasoned, specific and technically accurate response that covers the law and case history that delineates the FDA’s role, power and authority in these areas.” (04/25/07)

www.healthfreedom.net

Date: ongoing

“You could be eligible for government health insurance and not even know it. ‘Many don’t know there are programs like Healthy Families, for example, where a family of four can earn up to $60,000 and still qualify their children for comprehensive health care,’ said Philip Lebherz of The Foundation for Health Coverage Education (FHCE), a nonprofit organization. Studies indicate that nearly a third of an estimated 45 million uninsured Americans are eligible for government-sponsored health insurance programs and don’t know about them. U.S. residents in need of health insurance should contact the Uninsured Help Line at (800) 234-1317 for more information.” [editor’s note: Posting this, in a blog devoted to free-market solutions, may seem inappropriate; however, if all who “qualify” for assistance were using it (as a wellness-prevention mechanism), it could make things work better (and cheaper) for those who do not! - SAT] (04/14/07)

http://tinyurl.com/yukjeo

Date: ongoing