The New York state abortion law
Here’s my quick take on the law just passed on abortion in New York state. My first observation is that it’s an attempt to get a law in place that will set state rules for abortions if Roe v. Wade … Continue reading →
Category Archives: Health
The Dutch way of voluntary death
This is a long and very chilling report on how legalized euthanasia operates in the Netherlands. I’ve read about the phenomenon before, but not in as much depth. The suffering that can occur, particularly at the end of life, can … Continue reading →
What we know and don’t know about pot use
We don’t know all that much about pot, but much of what we do know is that it appears to be bad for some people: Over the past couple of decades, studies around the globe have found that THC—the active … Continue reading →
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s recovery
There’s a lot of speculation about what Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s current absence from the Court means. Is this the beginning of the end for RBG? Or just another bump on a long long road? Ginsburg had major lung surgery on … Continue reading →
The worst of both worlds: the war on opioid abuse becomes the war on pain patients
The opioid abuse (and overdose) epidemic isn’t fueled by chronic pain patients. Most of the abuse problem involves the use of illicit drugs by addicts, and then to a lesser extent the selling of drugs left over from short-term prescriptions … Continue reading →
Would you like a genetic test kit for Christmas?
Years ago I thought it sounded like a nifty idea. But in recent years I’ve decided no, not so much. First of all, a sibling of mine did it already so I pretty much know the general picture—which I already … Continue reading →
The fanatics of food
When a link to this Atlantic article came to me through Pocket (which thinks it knows what I might like to read and is often right on the money), the title put me off. It’s called “Eating Toward Immortality,” and … Continue reading →
A magic bullet for obesity?
But be careful what you wish for. At least in mice, researchers have had some success in targeting a gene for obesity: …[S]cientists are working toward a drug that would allow patients to lose weight without exercising or making any … Continue reading →
I guess this is what’s meant by “spare ribs”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg took a spill: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, 85, fractured three ribs in a fall in her office Wednesday night, according to a statement from the Supreme Court’s public information office. “Tests showed that she fractured … Continue reading →
Do you like coffee? I don’t. Now they’re saying it’s our genes.
I’ve written before about the fact that I hate coffee. So this National Geographic article, which reports that scientists have said that whether we like coffee or have trouble with it is at least partly genetic, is of interest. Of … Continue reading →
Potentially wonderful news for type 2 diabetics
This could be really really big: By destroying the mucous membrane in the small intestine and causing a new one to develop, scientists stabilised the blood sugar levels of people with type 2 diabetes. The results have been described as … Continue reading →
Sad announcement from Sandra Day O’Connor
At 88, she writes that she has been diagnosed with dementia, probably Alzheimer’s. “I will continue living in Phoenix, Arizona surrounded by dear friends and family,” she wrote and added, “While the final chapter of my life with dementia may … Continue reading →