Archive for May, 2006

The war on nurses

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“A May 24 article in the NY Times noted a provision in the recently passed Senate immigration reform bill that expands the number of foreign nurses who may work in the U.S. The article cited a national shortage of nurses for the removal of the current restriction on nurses from abroad. Lifting this cap on […]

Because you should pay more for food

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“Last night’s broadcast of Paula Zahn Now on CNN included a debate between a staunch opponent of consumer freedom and an equally steadfast supporter, arguing over that most absurd of food police proposals: the fat tax. Veteran trial lawyer John Banzhaf led off in favor of fat taxes by talking about cigarettes, pointing out that […]

Hello Nurse! Is the U.S. stealing health care workers from abroad?

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“It’s become a stock image in the immigration debates: the flooded emergency room, halls packed with sick illegals seeking subsidized care. But now that image’s negative is at the heart of a far smaller battle—not over the immigrants awaiting care in the E.R., but the immigrants providing it. The immigration bill passed by the Senate […]

Helllloooo, Nurse: Why we don’t need to import our caretakers

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“America has a nursing shortage, so Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas has the perfect solution: imports. His provision in the Senate’s immigration bill would waive the ceiling on the number of foreign nurses who can immigrate. Most come from poorer countries like the Philippines and India. According to The New York Times, which first […]

Eating healthy

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“As I approach my one hundred and tenth (give or take a few decades) birthday, I think it about time I give some thought to my diet. It’s not that I’m unhappy with my present regimen: half a dozen glazed donuts for breakfast, a bacon sandwich on peanut buttered toast for lunch, and mashed potatoes […]

Less advertising, more data urged for drug safety

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“When it comes to drug safety, U.S. patients and doctors need less advertising hype and more data to help decide whether to use prescription medicines, health researchers said on Tuesday. A panel of behavior experts, statisticians and other scientists said the Food and Drug Administration should consider simpler information on risks and benefits, such as […]

Study: Canadians’ health better than Americans’

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“You can add Canadians to the list of foreigners who are healthier than Americans. Americans are 42 percent more likely than Canadians to have diabetes, 32 percent more likely to have high blood pressure and 12 percent more likely to have arthritis, Harvard Medical School researchers found. That is according to a survey in which […]

CA: Professor’s diet book touts oil and sugar solution

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“Seth Roberts is a UC Berkeley psychology professor known for going his own way. His latest publication is a diet book, which is something scholars at world-ranked universities don’t write too often but which Roberts believes is an excellent way to get an important health message across to the general public. The book, a brisk, […]

Surgery planned for three-armed baby

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“Doctors in Shanghai on Tuesday were considering surgery options for a 2-month-old boy born with an unusually well-formed third arm. Neither of the boy’s two left arms is fully functional and tests have so far been unable to determine which was more developed, said Dr. Chen Bochang, head of the orthopedics department at Shanghai Children’s […]

Best benefit of exercise? Happiness

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

“They lack six-pack abs. They could lose a few. Yet they’re happy, body and soul. How are such people possible in body-centric America? They exercise. They work out. It’s part of their routine. Maybe not as often as they would like or think they should, but they do something. Sure there are the long-term benefits […]