The Wall Street Journal added to the discussion about cost-effectiveness of cancer drugs reflecting on a commentary in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute estimating that “it would cost $440 billion to extend life by one year for the 550,000 Americans who die annually of cancer.” Important topic. I’m glad the WSJ addressed it. [...]
It’s great to be first. But it’s better to be complete, balanced, and helpful with your news. CBS claimed an “exclusive” with a report on the “first person ever to get an infusion of his own heart stem cells” to try to avoid future problems after a heart attack. OK, they had the exclusive report [...]
That quote comes from a Minnesota physician in a Pioneer Press article that includes many good elements: Info on disparities in Medicare spending; Dartmouth Atlas data and graphic; Local angle on Atul Gawande’s New Yorker piece . Kudos to reporter Jeremy Olson.
“This is so ridiculous, it may not be worth blogging on,” Marilyn Mann wrote to me. I thrive on the ridiculous. Whenever and wherever I see something this absurd, this non-evidence-based, this unhelpful and potentially harmful to health care consumers, I’m going to comment. The columnist, a certified personal trainer, says she adapted her column [...]
The subject was a study in the New England Journal of Medicine on PARP inhibitors. It was an early phase I trial – the kind of trial that is not primarily designed to measure effectiveness. That didn’t stop the big 3 TV networks from trumpeting “BREAKTHROUGH!” The CBS Early Show said “researchers in Britain say [...]
Paul Scott writes about the documentary, “Depression: Out of the Shadows,” which won a Peabody Award. He criticizes that “its broad survey of the science of the illness included frequent appearances by Charles Nemeroff, M.D., a leading–some say powerful–mood disorders researcher from Emory University. Last fall, Nemeroff also became one of the most prominent psychiatrists [...]
I have written to the National Press Foundation stating my concern with the fact that they have accepted funding from the drug company Pfizer to offer journalism fellowships on cancer issues. I read about this in an e-newsletter sent by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The SPJ newsletter wrote that “Fifteen fellowships will [...]
I have written to the National Press Foundation stating my concern with the fact that they have accepted funding from the drug company Pfizer to offer journalism fellowships on cancer issues. I read about this in an e-newsletter sent by the Society of Professional Journalists. The SPJ newsletter wrote that “Fifteen fellowships will be awarded [...]
The Daily News boasts that today it “begins its ninth year of free prostate screenings at 37 hospitals, medical facilities, recreation centers, churches and office locations across the metro New York area.” The paper states that “Men age 40 and older and those with a family history of prostate cancer are offered the screenings.” Either [...]
A CBS Early Show segment on “three heart tests all women should know about” actually claimed that heart CT scans involved no radiation! And this involved a physician-correspondent! Excerpts of the story review on HealthNewsReview.org: This was classic morning show health news garbage. “Three heart tests that all women should know about”? “All” suggests that [...]
We look for more critical analysis of FDA expedited approval of a new drug like this.
Five-star story on small study that tries to counter large body of evidence on soy supplements for hot flashes.
Our reviewers, including a leading women’s health clinician-researcher, felt this piece would have been benefited from more data and context.
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