Vaccines are among the greatest success stories in the history of individual and public health. Since the eradication of smallpox, the near eradication of polio, and control of several other […]
US healthcare
Richard Lehman’s journal review—2 December 2013
NEJM 28 Nov 2013 Vol 369 2083 I like it that the NEJM has chosen to start this week’s firework show with a dud. Stand ready to be awed and […]
Alice James: Tackling tobacco temptation—why we need to target children
The most effective way we can reduce the global burden of smoking is to target young people. During the debate on standardised packaging of tobacco products, an initiative which has […]
Jen Gunter: Why the recent abortion law in Texas has nothing to do with patient safety
The US Supreme Court recently ruled in a 5:4 decision against an emergency application to stop a Texas law that requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at […]
Edward Davies: The assassination of JFK and cholesterol
The American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions have rolled into Dallas this week and the city is awash with two conversations: whether the latest cholesterol guidelines will result in the gross […]
Edward Davies: Open data – are you a great big hypocrite?
During the Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association I spoke to several people and attended a session with several speakers on the importance of open data. On the availability […]
William Cayley: Doing more with less in healthcare
The newer the better—or so it seems in much of commercialized medicine. At least in “developed” or “higher income” countries, medical innovation seems inextricably tied with commercial endeavors, which often […]
Richard Lehman’s journal review—18 November 2013
NEJM 14 Nov 2013 Vol 369 1880 As the Affordable Care Act splutters into action in the USA, JAMA devotes a whole issue to discussing the problems of healthcare in […]
Tiago Villanueva: Is active travel good for health?
If you thought Australia was the envy of the rest of the world in terms of having the most physically active people, think again. Peter McCue, executive officer for the […]
Gabriel Scally: International health starts at home
The sheer number (more than 600) and range of exhibitors that set up stall at the American Public Health Association’s annual meeting is, for me, one of the most interesting […]