Smear campaigns—they’re not just for politicians anymore If you thought propaganda vanished after World War II, peruse a copy of the September 2012 issue of Consumer Reports. In it, you’ll find [...]
Month: August 2012
The cancer test women should avoid at all costs
In June, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article addressing a recently updated recommendation by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The title of the [...]
Sending sacred cows to slaughter
Most Americans believe strongly that our “free” and “independent” media is one of our nation’s greatest strengths. We’re also proud of the tremendous importance our society places upon individual [...]
The deadliest drug in history
I’ve told you how the Institute of Medicine (IOM) is calling for better post-market surveillance for approved drugs. If the FDA actually heeds the IOM’s advice, it may save countless lives. [...]
Observe and report
And you thought a drug was safe just because the FDA says so? Unfortunately, all too often, the most dangerous side effects emerge AFTER the FDA gives its stamp of approval to a drug and it’s in [...]
“Eggsistential” angst
Speaking of healthy breakfasts (as we did in Dispatch “Breakfast of champions?”), let’s set the record straight—once and for all—about eggs. I’ve sometimes wondered whether the so-called [...]
Breakfast of champions?
In Monday’s Dispatch (“How to eat like an Olympian—without gaining weight”), I pointed out some of the meals the Olympic Athletes eat to replenish the tremendous amount of calories they burn. But [...]
What kind of doctor do you want?
My father was the first-born son of a (legal) immigrant who came to work in the U.S. exactly 100 years ago. My grandfather soon became a proud member and then organizer of the United Mine Workers [...]
Fresh off the Banana Boat
You may have seen it on the news back in June. A Massachusetts man applied aerosol sunscreen, and then was set on fire while tending barbecue coals. It was big news for a few days. Yet no one has [...]
How to eat like an Olympian—without gaining weight
The athletes competing in the London Olympics right now are facing a problem many of us would love to have. Getting enough calories to keep from losing critical body weight. You see, an Olympic [...]