Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research

Columnist George Will in the January 29 issue of the Washington Post first noted that “The stimulus legislation creates a council for Comparative Effectiveness Research. This is about medicine but not about healing the economy. The CER would identify (this is language from the draft report on the legislation) medical ‘items, procedures, and interventions’ that… Continue reading Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research

FDA, Time to Follow Your Own Rules and Respond to the Citizens for Health Petition regarding Splenda

The FDA has a petition pending before it. It is FDA Docket No. 2006P-0158. The petition was filed on April 7, 2006, by Citizens for Health. The FDA acknowledged the petition the day it was filed. The petition asked that the FDA revoke its approval of sucralose (also known as Splenda).

Do You Want Your Medical Records Online? The Economic Stimulus Bill Puts Your Privacy at Risk

It is time to make your voice known. As the new Obama administration rolls up its collective sleeves, the details of the coming economic stimulus bill have become known. A key issue for everyone is the privacy of your medical records. AAHF has written an excellent position paper on medical privacy.

Institute of Medicine Has Announced the Next Vit D Food and Nutrition Board. Guess Who is Left Out?

Vitamin D has been called the “buzz” vitamin of 2008. It’s early 2009 and current medical research demonstrating the benefits of optimal vitamin D supplementation is still coming in. Vitamin D has now been found to help diminish age-related mental decline, and vitamin D deficiency is linked to erythropoietic protoporphyria photosensitivity, a metabolic disorder characterized… Continue reading Institute of Medicine Has Announced the Next Vit D Food and Nutrition Board. Guess Who is Left Out?

“It is Imperative that FDA Take Immediate Steps” to Fix the Broken Review System for Medical Devices

The figure is staggering, the implications sobering. Senator Charles Grassley has revealed that a prominent University of Wisconsin researcher and surgeon has received $19 million over five years from Medtronic, one of the country’s largest medical device manufacturers. Sen. Grassley is investigating potential conflicts of interest in medicine.

Wall Street Journal Article on Alternative Medicine Provokes Angry Response

The January 9 issue of the Wall Street Journal published an article by Deepak Chopra, MD, Dean Ornish, MD, Andrew Weill, MD, and Rustum Roy, PhD.  “‘Alternative’ Medicine is Mainstream” made the case that an integrative, diet-and-lifestyle approach can curb our sky-high medical bills and cure our costly medical ills.

Approving Foods from Genetically Engineered Animals, the FDA Promises a New, Open Process

Japan moved closer to ending a ban on food products from cloned animals this month as a panel of their experts concluded they are as safe to eat as those from conventionally bred livestock. In the US, the FDA has announced a new, open process for the approval of foods and drugs from genetically engineered… Continue reading Approving Foods from Genetically Engineered Animals, the FDA Promises a New, Open Process

The Economy Is Tanking. Is This Good News for Herbal and Natural Meds?

A recent report in the Wall Street Journal said that healthcare spending grew at its lowest rate in nearly a decade in 2007, yet it swallowed an ever bigger portion of our country’s gross national product, not to mention the budgets of American families. Because of a trend toward generic medications, prescription drug spending was… Continue reading The Economy Is Tanking. Is This Good News for Herbal and Natural Meds?