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Chicago Team Uses Artificial Intelligence To Diagnose Metastatic Cancer
When doctors are managing care for women with breast cancer, the information available to them profoundly influences the type of care they recommend. Knowing whether a woman"s cancer has metastasized, for instance, directly affects how her doctors will approach treatment -- which may in turn influence the outcome of that treatment.
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Abstinence-Only Sex Education Debate Has High Financial Stakes, Washington Times Opinion Piece Says
By proposing to reduce funding for abstinence-only sex education programs, "the Obama administration has reignited America"s sex education debate," Washington Times columnist Cheryl Wetzstein writes in an opinion piece. She says that the "usual answers" she receives from abstinence-only opponents when she asks about their criticism of the programs is that abstinence-only education "doesn"t work, it leaves kids ignorant about how to use birth control, it doesn"t serve gay kids, and (off the record) it"s just a return to the bad old days when unenlightened, sex-hating harpies ran sex education." According to Wetzstein, some proponents of abstinence-only programs believe that another factor -- which is "never mentioned" in the sex education debate -- "is how sexually active youth are part of the market for certain commercial sex- and disease-related products, and abstinent behavior reduces that market share."Wetzstein reports that she recently spoke with Pam Mullarkey, founder of Project SOS, who is "furious" that Presdient Obama"s budget proposal would reduce funding for abstinence-only programs and increase money for teen pregnancy prevention. Mullarkey claims that abstinence-only opponents "have spent so much money trying to destroy abstinence education" because "it directly costs them big bucks" if teens abstain. Wetzstein writes that she has "dim hopes for the survival of abstinence education as we"ve know it," concluding, "But should Congress decide to "follow the money," as Mrs. Mullarkey suggests, who knows what might turn up" (Wetzstein, Washington Times, 5/19).
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Dose-Reduction Techniques Associated With Decreased Amount Of Radiation Exposure From Cardiac Scans Without Impairing Image Quality
An intervention that includes techniques to reduce the amount of radiation from cardiac computed tomography angiography (scanning used to diagnose coronary artery disease) was associated with decreasing patient exposure to radiation without significantly changing the quality of the images, according to a study in the June 10 issue of JAMA.
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Attorney Tom Keegan Argues Obama's Proposed Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Reform Will Not Reduce Health Care Costs In New York

Attorney Tom Keegan of the law firm Keegan & Keegan, Ross & Rosner, said President Barack Obama"s proposal to reduce the number of medical malpractice lawsuits being filed nationwide will not benefit the people of New York in any way because such legal mechanisms are already in place to cut down on the number of frivolous lawsuits being filed in the state. He further states that, contrary to what the president said, New Yorkers will not see a reduction in health care costs. As part of proposed health care reform package, President Obama is looking to implement medical malpractice reform as a way to reduce health care costs. Although he is looking to rein in medical malpractice lawsuits, he said he will not endorse any cap on jury awards. Medical errors result in the loss of 100,000 lives and injuries to more than 1.5 million people at a cost of $17-29 billion to U.S. taxpayers, according to the Institute of Medicine. Fearing lawsuits, doctors and hospitals do not openly discuss their mistakes. Doctors have complained that "defensive medicine"- ordering tests and procedures so they do not get sued - is the reason for the rise in health costs. Mr. Keegan argues that President Obama"s proposal will not make any difference whatsoever to New York State residents. "In New York, it is very difficult to file and prosecute these kinds of cases," Mr. Keegan said. "By far, the vast majority of cases that are filed are meritorious cases and are eventually resolved; they are defended with enormous vigor by the liability insurance carriers who spend unlimited amounts in defense instead of owning up to clear and serious injuries caused by error and paying the injured parties." A 1986 amendment to the Civil Practice Law and Rules and subsequent case law, as well as stringent requirements of the uniform court rules in New York State regarding medical malpractice lawsuits, have all had an impact in reducing frivolous lawsuits. "Since then, we have not had a significant number of frivolous lawsuits filed in New York. Other jurisdictions in the country have also followed suit," he said. Based on 2007 numbers, The Congressional Budget Office has indicated that reducing malpractice costs by 25% would cut less than one half of one percent out of the nation"s health care costs. "With all due respect to my friends in the medical field, the overtesting is driven far more by the fiscal benefit to the medical profession than the president"s misguided assertions," Mr. Keegan said. "If you think the president changing these rules will result in a significant saving in medical costs, you are sadly mistaken." Keegan & Keegan, Ross & Rosner


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