MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'florida'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:52:32 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5078036&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F0pYjzQ4aXt4%2F Earlier this month, the Florida Department of Health filed an administrative complaint against Peter Gleason, a physician, in connection with his 2006 arrest for off-label marketing of the Xyrem cataplexy drug, which is used to treat a sudden loss of muscle tone associated with narcolepsy. His talks were funded by Orphan Medical, which was bought by Jazz Pharmaceuticals. He recently pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor with no intent, sentenced to one year of probation and paid a $25 fine. However, the state failed to note one important detail - Gleason died this past February. The 57-year-old physician recently saw his medical licenses suspended in Pennsylvania and California, and the accumulated weight of the events apparently led him to commit suicide, according to his sister. We left mess... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5078036 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:44:42 +0100 5078036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5051238&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FbCFE16uqAmc%2F And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. As you know, this is our welcome signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda is modest - a dip in the pool, an evening of soccer with one of the short people and catching up on some reading. What about you? Given the heat, a few indoor activities may be in order. How about an air-conditioned drive in the country or a movie marathon (if you avoid paying for more than one flick, you have a bargain). You could take a trip to the mall and spur the economy. Or you could stay home and turn on the telly for updates on the debt talks. Whatever you do, have a good time and stay cool. See you soon… Bristol-Myers Buys Amira Pharmaceuticals For Up To $475M (Xconomy) Merck And Simcere Pharmaceutical Form Joint Venture (China Daily) Ex... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5051238 Fri, 22 Jul 2011 11:44:20 +0100 5051238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5028218&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdengue-fever-mosquito-born-illness-now-found-in-texas-florida-and-hawaii%2F2011.07.13 Dengue fever is a viral (flavivrus) disease transmitted by Aedes albopictus and female A. aegypti mosquitoes. It is estimated that 50 to 100 million people in more than 100 countries are infected each year with dengue viruses. There are four different types of dengue virus, and there is no cross-immunity, so a person may be stricken with dengue fever four times in his life. The most active feeding times for dengue vector mosquitoes is for a few hours after daybreak and in the afternoon for a few hours just after dark (dusk). As opposed to the night-feeding mosquitoes that transmit malaria, these species tend to be “urban,” may also feed during daylight hours (also indoors, in the shade, and during overcast weather), and are known to bite below the waist. Dengue fever is seen chiefly in... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5028218 Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:00:00 +0100 5028218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4853218&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FYC8nXoQY5XE%2F In the latest example of who antipsychotics are being prescribed inappropriately, Florida’s state-run jails and residential homes are regularly giving large doses of the meds but not for uses that were approved by the FDA. And in some cases, the drugs are prescribed by contract doctors who have taken speaking fees and other gifts from drugmakers, according to The Palm Beach Post. As a result, the state’s Department of Juvenile Justice has ordered a review. “The questions recently brought to our attention are serious, and deserve answers based on a careful, thorough and independent review of the facts,” DJJ Secretary Wansley Walters tells the paper, which ran a two-part series about the problem (read here and here). The series raises familiar questions about the exte... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4853218 Mon, 23 May 2011 15:08:23 +0100 4853218 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4847955&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fsurgeons-who-refuse-to-treat-obese-women-liability-containment-or-discrimination%2F2011.05.20 In a nation with 93 million obese people, a few ob-gyn doctors in South Florida now refuse to see otherwise healthy women solely because they are overweight. Fifteen obstetrics-gynecology practices out of 105 polled by the Sun Sentinel said they have set weight cut-offs for new patients starting at 200 pounds or based on measures of obesity — and turn down women who are heavier. Some of the doctors said the main reason was their exam tables or other equipment can’t handle people over a certain weight. But at least six said they were trying to avoid obese patients because they have a higher risk of complications. Source: visiontoamerica.org/719/report-doctors-refusing-to-treat-overweight-patients/ While I have not specifically “refused to treat” obese patients, I have in a few cas... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4847955 Fri, 20 May 2011 22:00:14 +0100 4847955 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841581&cid=t_103652_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F19%2Fmuzzling-doctors-who-ask-questions-about-gun-safety%2F Imagine that your 16-year-old daughter has been bullied mercilessly in school, but hasn’t talked to you about it, or spoken about her suicidal impulses. One day, she is brought by ambulance to your local hospital emergency room, having made superficial cuts on her arms while in school. The emergency room physician tries to call you at work, but your cell phone isn’t picking up. The doctor begins her evaluation of your daughter, including an assessment of all relevant risk factors for suicide. Now imagine that the doctor believes she is forbidden by law from asking your daughter whether there are guns in your home — despite the fact that firearms in the home markedly increase the risk of gun-related suicide.1 You needn’t use much imagination. In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott is expec... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841581 Thu, 19 May 2011 10:38:43 +0100 4841581 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4841671&cid=t_103652_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fcustomization-key-successful-pediatric-emr-systems As my interest in electronic medical records, especially in the pediatric realm, has grown alongside the weight and height of my young children, I did a little digging to see just how large the pediatric-specific EMR market has become. A simple Google search of “pediatrics, EMR” brought up, suffice it say, results too numerous to dive into (550,000, to be exact).   No sticky read more (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4841671 Tue, 17 May 2011 13:38:09 +0100 4841671 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4813240&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F79MDcj0AWYs%2F By Ilya ShapiroAs I noted yesterday, Obamacare is moving towards its inevitable date with the Supreme Court.  Although the pace may be aggravating, attorneys on both sides are strengthening their arguments and clarifying the issues presented. Cato’s latest brief, filed today in the Eleventh Circuit in support of 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business, sharpens the position we already expressed in briefs filed in the Fourth Circuit and the Sixth Circuit.  Our focus remains the question of whether the Constitution authorizes Congress to mandate that individuals purchase health insurance or suffer a fine. The government has subtly shifted its thinking at this stage, however, to argue that the individual mandate does not so much compel “inactive” cit... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4813240 Wed, 11 May 2011 21:07:25 +0100 4813240 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658362&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FysKHRESogNA%2F By Adam SchaefferI recently gave testimony on the merits of an education tax credit bill that's being considered in South Carolina. Molly Spearman, executive director of the S.C. Association of School Administrators, a public school lobbying group, denounces both the bill and my testimony today in The State newspaper. Ms. Spearman's comments reveal either a complete disregard for the basic facts and research findings, or an ignorance of those facts, resulting in errors big and small. On the small side, she refers to me as a "paid consultant from the Virginia-based Cato Institute" when in reality I'm a policy analyst at the Cato Institute, which is based in Washington D.C. And while I am, unsurprisingly, paid a salary by my employer, I received no compensation of any kind in return for my t... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658362 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 20:13:46 +0100 4658362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4658363&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FnqJ1fuLjTRo%2F By Michael F. CannonA couple of people have asked me about a comment David Rivkin made at Cato's recent conference on the first anniversary of ObamaCare. Rivkin is representing the 26 states suing to overturn ObamaCare in Florida v. HHS, the case in which a federal judge declared ObamaCare unconstitutional and void. In his most recent ruling in that case, Judge Roger Vinson allowed the Obama administration to keep implementing and enforcing the law, in part because the fact that most of the plaintiff states are also implementing the law "undercut" their request that he stop the Obama administration from doing so.  I (and others) have been urging states to follow the lead of Republican governors Rick Scott (FL), Sean Parnell (AK), and Bobby Jindal (LA) by refusing and returning all Obama ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4658363 Wed, 30 Mar 2011 17:55:00 +0100 4658363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4622189&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F03%2Fdr-frank-farmer-named-florida-surgeon-general%2F Dr. Frank Farmer, the head of the Florida Medical Association, has been named the new Surgeon General for the state of Florida. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4622189 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 04:22:59 +0100 4622189 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4615081&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMS8NpV5DC1U%2F By George Scoville "The New Health Care Law: What a Difference a Year Makes," featuring a keynote address from constitutional attorney and counsel in Florida v. HHS David Rivkin, and panels including economist and former CBO director Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Cato director of health policy Michael F. Cannon and vice president for legal affairs Roger Pilon, and many more, begins at 1pm Eastern today. Please join us as we stream the event at our new live events hub, or watch on Facebook. If you prefer television, the forum will be broadcast live on C-SPAN 2. "The next time gun-control advocates point to violence in Mexico and call for more restrictions on gun sales or a revived assault-weapons ban, they should consider that the problem may not be with the laws on the books, but with those who enf... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4615081 Mon, 21 Mar 2011 14:46:35 +0100 4615081 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4600519&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Faqdp9R6m8WQ%2F By David BoazIn the Washington Post, Dana Milbank rounds up a lot of bills introduced into state legislatures by conservatives, some of them a bit odd, and blames them all on "the Tea Party." "Tea Party" has sort of replaced "neoconservative" as an all-purpose pejorative for liberals. Meanwhile, a tiny AP story down in the small type among the nail fungus ads reported some real Tea Party-style news. The Miami Herald covered it in more detail: Voters swept Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez out of office by a stunning margin Tuesday [88 percent], capping a dramatic collapse for a politician who was given increased authority by voters four years ago to clean up much-maligned county government but was ushered out in the largest recall of a local politician in U.S. history. The spectacular fall f... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4600519 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:41:01 +0100 4600519 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4549739&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FMAc4ILLmLfc%2F By Michael F. CannonThat's the title of my latest column at National Review Online.  An excerpt: Mitt Romney isn’t the only Republican presidential hopeful with an Obamacare problem: Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, were he to become the GOP’s nominee, could also undermine the repeal campaign that has united the party’s base and independent voters. Among his liabilities: Daniels’s decision to accept Obamacare funds and move forward with implementation is further undermining the repeal effort. Yesterday, federal judge Roger Vinson reversed his initial order forbidding the Obama administration to implement the law. He did so in part because plaintiff states such as Indiana are implementing it, which he said “undercut” their own argument that he should block it. But all is no... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4549739 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:54:56 +0100 4549739 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544944&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FgWQnovK_N-E%2F By Jim HarperUntil now, Florida has not been one of the states to buck the federal government's national ID mandate, established in the REAL ID Act of 2005. A pair of grand jury reports in 2002 had moved the state to tighten its driver licensing processes prior to any federal action, so it was already doing many of the things that the Department of Homeland Security is now seeking to require of states in the name of REAL ID. Full compliance with REAL ID remains a distant hope, so DHS has set out a list of 18 "milestones," progress toward which it is treating as REAL ID compliance. Full compliance with REAL ID includes putting driver information into a network for nationwide information sharing---including scanned copies of basic identity documents. It includes giving all licensees and ID h... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544944 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:53:26 +0100 4544944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4544945&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F7DYMODlxezk%2F By Michael F. CannonJudge Roger Vinson of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida has just responded to the Obama administration's "motion to clarify" his prior ruling, which declared ObamaCare unconstitutional and void.  That "motion to clarify" essentially asked Vinson, "Didn't you really mean that we can keep implementing ObamaCare while we appeal your ruling?"  Today, Vinson answered, "No." The attorneys representing the plaintiffs, who include Florida and 25 other states, argued that the administration's "motion to clarify" was actually a veiled request to have Vinson stay (i.e., set aside) his original order blocking implementation.  Vinson agreed, and therefore treated the Obama administration's "motion to clarify" as a motion to stay, which he granted.  Vin... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4544945 Thu, 03 Mar 2011 19:32:21 +0100 4544945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489644&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FLmalmxDrURo%2F By Michael F. CannonIn yesterday's Providence Journal, my colleague Ilya Shapiro and I argue that, since a federal court has voided ObamaCare as unconstitutional, the Obama administration should immediately cease all efforts to implement ObamaCare: Federal courts do not issue advisory opinions. The parties to any lawsuit are bound by any resulting judgment. At minimum, then, the government lacks authority to implement ObamaCare where the case was decided, in the Northern District of Florida, and the 26 state plaintiffs need take no action to do so. Likewise, members of the National Federation of Independent Business, another plaintiff in the case, may now be entitled to the same protection from Obamacare’s requirements. Moreover, it is not unreasonable to argue that Vinson’s ruling app... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489644 Thu, 17 Feb 2011 14:45:22 +0100 4489644 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4489677&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fviolence-as-a-means-of-miscarriage%2F2011.02.16 In less than six months after I wrote ”Seven Reasons Why Pregnancy Becomes a Deadly Affair,” the public outrage is faint and inaudible regarding domestic violence committed against pregnant women. The subject therefore needs to be revisited again. On a college campus less than 90 minutes away from my home, a 17-year-old woman was kicked and punched in her abdomen for no apparent reason other than that she carried life within her womb. The alleged father of her baby, Devin Nickels, a college student at Florida State University (FSU), was apparently not happy about his new prospective role. He purportedly contacted a high school buddy, Andres Luis Marrero, who now attended the University of Tampa, and asked him to beat his girlfriend until she had a miscarriage for $200.00. Ma... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4489677 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:00:47 +0100 4489677 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4433102&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Faccountable-care-act-unconstitutional-the-fate-of-americans-health%2F2011.02.03 A Florida’s judge’s ruling that the Accountable Care Act (ACA) is unconstitutional doesn’t resolve the underlying constitutional issue (which will ultimately have to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court) but it has introduced new uncertainty for the $2.3 trillion health care industry, and emboldened the law’s critics to push even harder for repeal (not that they weren’t trying already). The Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) health blog reports that “states and companies that are supposed to be implementing the law trying to figure out what to do next. The WSJ reports that the 26 states that are parties to the suit are considering whether to ask the Supreme Court to take up the case now, before it has fully wended its way through the legal system. The New York Times (NYT) quotes the... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4433102 Thu, 03 Feb 2011 20:00:00 +0100 4433102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4424216&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fvkx4wny6XWE%2F By Tad DeHavenThat’s what the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s recently retired inspector general had to say in response to rampant malfeasance and mismanagement at public housing authorities uncovered by a joint investigation by ABC News and The Center for Public Integrity. From the report: The problems are widespread, from an executive in New Orleans convicted of embezzling more than $900,000 in housing money around the time he bought a lavish Florida mansion to federal funds wrongly being spent to provide housing for sex offenders or to pay vouchers to residents long since dead. Despite red flags from its own internal watchdog, HUD has continued to plow fresh federal dollars into these troubled agencies, including $218 million in stimulus funds since 2009, the joint inv... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4424216 Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:02:30 +0100 4424216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4419139&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fpossible-5-million-fine-or-prison-for-doctors-who-ask-about-guns-in-the-home%2F2011.01.31 No photo for this post. You can imagine why. I’m a little stunned by the news that a politician in Florida is trying to stifle pediatricians from asking questions about guns in the home. My reaction is utterly predictable. Should I YELL IT or write it down or leave it up to your genius (and imagination)? (silence) The skinny on the Florida proposal: Florida Rep. Jason Brodeur said “he has heard about a number of cases in which doctors asked about guns. He thinks the topic should be off-limits.” Brodeur says he’s concerned about doctors asking patients about guns in the home. He’s concerned that information could get into the hands of the government or insurance companies. Under the proposed legislation, a doctor could face a fine of up to $5 million or be sent to prison for up t... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4419139 Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:00:08 +0100 4419139 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394744&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-b4oJVcZs1A%2F Over the past few years, the feds have successfully forced numerous drugmakers to settle charges that they deliberately misreported pricing info in order to hike reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid. And behind this string of settlements is a pharmacy called Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys, which created a whistleblowing cottage industry of its own by simply rummaging through data. For instance, a 2005 California suit alleged that a one-gram vial of the antibiotic vancomycin was sold to healthcare providers for $6.29, but billed to Medi-Cal for $58.37, while 50 milligram tablets of the atenolol blood pressure med were billed to pharmacies at $3.04 and to Medi-Cal at $70.30. Armed with such discrepances, Ven-A-Care filed lawsuit after lawsuit - and reaped big rewards. Since 2000, the li... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394744 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:21:49 +0100 4394744 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4372045&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fshould-doctors-be-banned-from-asking-if-a-patient-owns-a-gun%2F2011.01.19 Via an article entitled “Proposed Law Would Ban Docs From Asking If Patient Owns Gun” from First Coast News: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A state lawmaker has filed a bill that would ban doctors from asking their patients if they have a gun in the home. Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, said he has heard of a number of cases in which doctors asked their patients that question, which he thinks should be off limits. “What we don’t want to do is have law-abiding firearm owners worried that the information is going to be recorded and then sent to their insurance company,” he said. “If they’re on Medicaid maybe it’s sent to the government. If the overreaching federal government actually takes over health care, they’re worried that Washington, D.C. is going to know whether or not... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4372045 Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:00:29 +0100 4372045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4314008&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fliposuction-related-death-and-finding-a-safe-doctor%2F2011.01.05 From the Chicago Tribune: A 35-year-old woman who wanted to resculpt herself for the new year with liposuction and a buttocks enhancement is dead from apparent complications of plastic surgery, her husband and lawyer said Thursday. Miami customer service representative Lidvian Zelaya died Monday, hours after the operation began at Strax Rejuvenation and Aesthetics Institute, a busy cosmetic surgery practice in Lauderhill. Zelaya went to Strax to have fat suctioned from her back and belly, and to have the material injected into her backside, family representatives said. She chose Strax because she got a good deal. Aronfeld said the operation was to be done by Dr. Roger L. Gordon. He was disciplined by the state in connection with two plastic surgery deaths in 2004. This is getting ridiculou... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4314008 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 16:00:26 +0100 4314008 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4277789&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F12%2Fflorida-health-commissioner-dr-ana-viamonte-ros-dismissed-withering-criticism-governor%2F Florida Health Commissioner Dr. Ana Viamonte Ros has been told her last day in that position is January 3, 2011 after she came in for heavy criticism by the transition team of newly elected Florida Governor Rick Scott. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4277789 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 04:24:30 +0100 4277789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265688&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FOh8V9LhskYs%2F By Ilya ShapiroToday’s hearing in Pensacola built on Monday’s ruling out of Richmond: Judge Roger Vinson is likely to hold the individual mandate unconstitutional. And such a decision would be the most significant development possible at the district court level because the Florida case involved 20 states, with more joining the lawsuit when new governors and attorneys general assume office in January. It is unprecedented for this number of states — again, soon to be a majority — to sue the federal government and it shows the singular and extreme nature of the government’s assertion of raw power here. As Judge Vinson said during the hearing, the Supreme Court has held that the outer bounds of Congress’s regulatory power under the Commerce Clause (as exerc... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265688 Thu, 16 Dec 2010 18:04:15 +0100 4265688 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190525&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F8S4VgXuJzVE%2F Welcome back, everyone. We hope your weekend was refreshing and put to good use. Now, of course, the routine returns, although this is a short week on this side of the pond. Nonetheless, meetings and deadlines loom, if only for a little while. So please join us as we brew the mandatory cup of stimulation and peruse the news of the world. Hope your day goes well and stay in touch… Bayer & Regeneron Eye Drugs Show Good Results (Bloomberg News) Genzyme Considers New Sanofi Deal Structure (TheStreet) FDA Approves 2nd Human Study Of Embryonic Stem Cells (Associated Press) Merck Wins Fosamax Trial (The New York Times) VR Labs To Build HQ In Florida (Fort Myers News-Press) Advair Poses Generic Hurdles (The Wall Street Journal) (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190525 Mon, 22 Nov 2010 13:04:07 +0100 4190525 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183344&cid=t_103652_109_f&fid=34761&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedblitz.com%2F%7E%2F22202554%2F0%2Fneuromarketing%7EWhat-Your-Dog-Can-Teach-You-About-Customers.htm Dogs have many attributes we’d like to see in our customers – they are completely loyal, usually enthusiastic, and are always happy to see us. That might be too much to hope for from our human customers, but a recent study showed something interesting about how dog brains work that we should keep in mind [...] CommentsThanks, Geno & Rich. What put me onto this was my own puppy who ... by Roger DooleyGreat parallels between the two seemingly unrelated studies, ... by Geno PrussakovThe best post we've seen on the blog so far. Elegant combo of ... by Rich and Co.Related StoriesFree Website Heat MapSix Selling Secrets From MagiciansWhat’s in a Name? Lots! (Source: Neuromarketing) Neuromarketing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183344 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:45:43 +0100 4183344 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082063&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FdkxMlyki25c%2F By Ilya ShapiroI’m fond of saying that lawsuits don’t proceed at Internet speed — meaning that people are disappointed when I tell them that a new constitutional challenge to uphold property rights or free speech or individual liberty generally will take years to get through the courts, or that we’ll have to wait several months for a court to issue an opinion in some front-page case.  But lately it does seem that developments from the ongoing legal challenges to Obamacare are coming faster and faster, as if the train has now left the station and, to badly mix metaphors, it’s snowballing to an eventual collision at the Supreme Court. That “gaining speed” phenomenon is mainly coincidence — given the more than 20 Obamacare lawsuits out there, ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082063 Tue, 19 Oct 2010 18:21:16 +0100 4082063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4082005&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F10%2Fsinger-celine-dion-hospitalized-pregnancy-precaution%2F International pop star Celine Dion has been admitted to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida as a precaution and in advance of giving birth to twins in the first week of November. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4082005 Mon, 18 Oct 2010 18:46:44 +0100 4082005 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4053454&cid=t_103652_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2010%2F10%2F10%2Ffloridas-marco-rubio-privatize-social-security-who-me%2F New cartoon by Trussell & Trussell on Politics Daily. Florida’s Marco Rubio: Privatize Social Security? Who, me? Filed under: Politics Daily Tagged: 2010 election, cancer humor, florida, marco rubio, political cartoon, robert donna trussell, senate (Source: Donna Trussell) Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4053454 Sun, 10 Oct 2010 17:57:25 +0100 4053454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3993794&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F09%2Fmayo-clinic-employee-steven-beumel-barred-practicing-radiology-technologist%2F Former Mayo Florida clinic radiology technologist Steven Beumel has been barred by medical authorities in Florida from serving in a professional capacity. He is accused of stealing powerful narcotics from patients to feed his own drug addiction, allegedly infecting three Mayo patients with the hepatitis C virus while doing so. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3993794 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 01:37:42 +0100 3993794 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3933087&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fa-medical-alert-bracelet-inside-your-iphone%2F2010.09.03 OnCall Defender Medical Alert (available via iTunes) is an iPhone app that features 3G connection to a 24-hour security monitoring service. Via a subscription service, you can use your iPhone to send an emergency notification to the service after which local law enforcement or EMT services, depending on the type of alarm, will be dispatched. The advantage over using 911 is that the monitoring service automatically receives GPS localization of your whereabouts and that you can cancel the emergency call within 15 seconds. The service costs $16.99 a month or $9.99 with a one-year subscription. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at iMedicalApps* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3933087 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:38:28 +0100 3933087 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776611&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FI34zs94vp7w%2F Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed to pay $169 million to settle allegations brought by Texas, California, Florida and the US government that the drugmaker inflated the prices of its meds in order to receive larger reimbursements from various Medicaid programs (here is the settlement). Earlier this year, Teva set aside $315 million to cover settlements and other litigation related to alleged Medicaid fraud (see here). The litigation was initiated by Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys, which in recent years has filed several suits against drugmakers, including Schering-Plough, Mylan Labs, Abbott Labs and Sanofi-Aventis. Texas also initiated legal action against Mylan Laboratories and Sandoz in 2007, although those drugmakers did not settle the case (see statement from the Texas Attorney General). (Sou... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776611 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:59:30 +0100 3776611 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767296&cid=t_103652_137_f&fid=39091&url=http%3A%2F%2Falzheimmers.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fbook-signing-florida.html The book signing in June in Florida went well. I did a talk about Alzheimer's and the book and my perspectives as a caregiver at age 17 to my mother as well as a couple readings. There were some wonderful questions, and I have to say the issues and struggles people are dealing with for their loved ones have not changed in 30 years, since I went through it.I want to thank the staff at Lake City, Orlando, and Ft. Lauderdale public libraries for hosting these events. They were gracious hosts, the presentations free of charge and were just for anyone interested in AD. Most people as you know are not interested in hearing about the disease till it touches them.People are looking for answers, validation, reassurance, and new meaningful information. Very caring family members, good folks, regular... Caregiver Survival: I Hate Alzheimers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767296 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 19:52:00 +0100 3767296 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3767313&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FPUVgYH4kPPo%2F Last year, a 7-year-old foster boy named Gabriel Myers committed suicide in Florida and, after reams of publicity and hand-wringing over the use of psychotropic medications in such children, a state task force recommended, among other things, that children never be allowed to participate in a clinical trial designed to evaluate new psychotropic meds or whether such drugs approved for adults should be given to children. The move was prompted, in part, because a Florida psychiatrist, Sohail Punjwani, who treated the boy before he committed suicide, received an FDA warning letter for failing “to protect the rights, safety and welfare” of children enrolled in clinical trials (back story). Before the suicide, the psychiatrist prescribed to kids several drugs, some of which weren’t approve... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3767313 Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:56:21 +0100 3767313 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3740584&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcqY5QUVJim0%2F By Daniel J. MitchellSupporters of the Cleveland Cavaliers, especially the owner of the team, are upset that basketball superstar LeBron James has decided to sign with the Miami Heat. The anger is especially intense because the Cavaliers offered James $4 million more over the next five years. But their anger is misplaced because more money in Cleveland actually translates into about $1 million less disposable income when the burden of state and local income taxes is added to the equation. Rather than condemn James for making a rational choice, local basketball fans should tar and feather Ohio politicians. This story from CNBC walks through the calculations. [I]f you match up what James’ salary would be for the first five years in Cleveland and the five years in Miami, you find that the C... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3740584 Fri, 09 Jul 2010 19:26:49 +0100 3740584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3737018&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fbp-oil-spill-is-killing-fish-we-didnt-even-know-existed%2F image via Treehugger Hey, everyone — good news! Scientists have discovered three new species of fish in the Gulf of Mexico. Oh, wait — that Gulf of Mexico. Turns out, not only is the BP oil spill killing underwater species we already knew about, but it’s also eradicating species we didn’t even know existed. Another giant win for BP. Next, perhaps scientists will discover a tribe (school?) of mermaids, who will declare war on us for decimating their watery home. Mermaids can breathe underwater – we’d definitely lose. via Treehugger Post from: BlissTree BP Oil Spill Is Killing Fish We Didn't Even Know Existed (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3737018 Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:33:40 +0100 3737018 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733299&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FVqaktbBtXWI%2F Last week, the Florida Medical Examiners Commission released its most recent report on the number of drug-related deaths in the state. The sad bottom line is that 8,653 - out of more than 171,300 deaths overall - were attributed to a drug that was listed as a cause of death, according to toxicology reports. Data was collected on various drugs, including benzodiazepines; cannabinoids; cocaine; ethyl alcohol; gamma-hydroxybutyric acid; methylated amphetamines (including Ecstasy); and various opioids, including fentanyl, heroin, methadone, morphine and oxycodone (read the report). However, one class of drugs that has, unfortunately, been associated with deaths, specifically suicide, is not included - antidepressants. Despite curiosity over this omission, Florida officials say there is a reaso... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733299 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 12:06:11 +0100 3733299 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3729842&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fvolunteering-and-productivity-where-would-you-volunteer%2F photo: Thinkstock Taking a half-day off to volunteer sounds like a cakewalk compared to an afternoon stuck in your cube. The added benefits? It could even improve your job performance. A University of Florida study showed that workers who have permission to do public service work harder, speak well about their employer in public, take less time off work, and are happier. Sounds like a win-win-win situation. If your employer let you take off some of your work day to volunteer, what kind of nonprofit would you like to help out? via Planet Green Post from: BlissTree Volunteering and Productivity: Where Would You Donate Your Time? (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3729842 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:13:22 +0100 3729842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721740&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fjust-when-you-thought-bp-couldnt-get-worse-they-cover-oil-with-sand%2F BP really should stop lying, and realize that they can’t get away with their catastrophic and irresponsible environmental damages forever, but somehow we have a feeling that’s not going to happen anytime soon. The corporation’s latest mistakes include trying to cover up washed-up oil by dumping more sand on the beach. Check out a visual tour of their latest scumbag move: via Fast Company Post from: BlissTree Just When You Thought BP Couldn't Suck More, They Cover Oil With Sand (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721740 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:06:37 +0100 3721740 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3714147&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fneed-10-million-figure-out-how-to-clean-the-oil-spill%2F photo: Thinkstock Who couldn’t use a cool ten mill? We wouldn’t mind it. That dough could be yours if you figure out an effective way to clean up the BP oil spill in the Gulf. It’s a pretty daunting task, but if the future of the oceans don’t motivate you, maybe this will: The X Prize Foundation, a nonprofit that offers prizes to spur technological innovation, is offering the reward. Now if only they could figure out a way to persuade BP to actually accept some help with cleaning up this environmental disaster. via Triple Pundit Post from: BlissTree Need $10 Million? Figure Out How to Clean Up the Gulf Oil Spill (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3714147 Wed, 30 Jun 2010 19:32:39 +0100 3714147 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3706646&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fwhy-didnt-we-think-of-that-bp-funny-ish-photo-of-the-day%2F Well, duh. Now that we see it, the solution seemed so obvious. via Bits and Pieces Post from: BlissTree Why Didn't We Think of That, BP? Funny-ish Photo of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3706646 Mon, 28 Jun 2010 18:58:47 +0100 3706646 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3699459&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Flet-your-kids-play-in-the-gulf-oil-spill-videos-that-make-us-mad%2F We obviously don’t want the tourism industries in Florida or anywhere else along the Gulf of Mexico to hurt any more than they already are hurting. But really – what kind of insane parents let their kids play in water that has oil in it? I’m not talking about the Gulf of Mexico as a whole, but when you can literally see the oil on the sand (let alone your children), it’s probably time to call it a day at the beach. We can assume that by this time, the whole world has heard about the spill, right? Residing under a rock seems like it’s the only viable excuse for letting your preschoolers swim in oil. via Treehugger Post from: BlissTree Let Your Kids Play In the Gulf Oil Spill: Videos That Make Us Mad (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3699459 Fri, 25 Jun 2010 22:19:28 +0100 3699459 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3695529&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fgulf-oil-spill-spirit-air-must-be-high-to-stoop-so-low%2F So far, it seems like no one’s really capitalizing on the BP oil spill in the Gulf. We haven’t seen any t-shirts or heard any #1 hits about oil – and if we did, we’d hope the proceeds would be going to those people and wildlife affected by the spill. That’s so gre–wait, what? Spirit Air is running ads that are exploiting the oil spill – and sexist to boot? Spirit Air’s new campaign focuses on scantily-clad women lounging on beaches, all lubed up and enjoying the sun. The tagline reads, “Check out the oil on our beaches.” So tasteless. Did anyone at the ad agency perhaps think it was too soon, insensitive, or inappropriate to exploit a disaster that killed people, wildlife, and ruined a huge swath of the Gulf of Mexico – and is just getting ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3695529 Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:10:36 +0100 3695529 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687066&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ftodays-to-do-list-apologize-to-bp%2F photo from Reuters Last week, after Rep. Joe Barton apologized to BP for what he called the White House’s “shakedown” of the company, Republicans and Democrats alike couldn’t believe it. But you know what? Maybe there are some things for which we need to apologize to BP. ApologizeToBP.com is up and running for everyone to air the grievances that they’ve committed against BP. You can also use Twitter to show your remorse for the awful things you’ve done to BP with the hashtag #ImSorryBP. Grist did a round-up of the best apologies, and we chose a few of our faves: #ImSorryBP for not giving you your props for the 8 other oil rigs you operate that are hardly leaking at all. #ImSorryBP That people keep referring to the Exxon Valdez spill in reference to your ... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687066 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 19:20:06 +0100 3687066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3676662&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmedication-safety-and-ambulance-chasing-lawyers%2F2010.06.18 I don’t know about the rest of you medical bloggers, but I’ve been getting emails from folks who run a website called DrugWatch.com asking for reciprocal links and promoting themselves as the go-to place for patients to get up-to-date information on medication safety. Tucked into the website is this promise: “We will never accept advertising from the pharmaceutical industry.” Right. Because the whole site is a front for a bunch of Orlando lawyers trying to sniff out potential clients for medication-related lawsuits against the pharmaceutical industry. (more…) *This blog post was originally published at The Blog that Ate Manhattan* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3676662 Sat, 19 Jun 2010 01:14:18 +0100 3676662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678586&cid=t_103652_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F06%2F16%2Frec-sharing-or-lack-thereof%2F There was a pretty interesting thread posted to a LinkedIn group about the RECs. Here’s some comments that will make you think a little bit about the RECs and in particular the RECs working together (or not). It is understandable that REC’s must adapt their programs to the communities they plan on serving….Healthcare is local. However, living in Florida, where there are 4 REC’s, I expect some things to be consistent…for example the implementation process should include the same pre-implementation workflow worksheet. Unfortunately, this may not happen. We know that ONC is asking that the REC’s play nice and share best practices. However, as a consultant that is talking with 3 of the 4 REC’s about a role….one REC leader in Florida asked me&#82... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678586 Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:59:38 +0100 3678586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3662610&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Ffloridas-daily-bp-oil-spill-response-update-june-14-2010%2F Florida Governor Charlie Crist and the State Emergency Response Team have released the June 14, 2010 update for the Deepwater Horizon BP Oil spill. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3662610 Tue, 15 Jun 2010 02:16:33 +0100 3662610 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3678588&cid=t_103652_113_f&fid=34634&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.emrandhipaa.com%2Femr-and-hipaa%2F2010%2F06%2F14%2Fflorida-board-member-recommends-statewide-warning-on-emr-errors%2F Here’s an interesting story from Florida: A Florida Board of Medicine member wants the board to issue a statewide warning about EMRs, following an incident in which an OB-GYN missed an abnormal Pap smear and blamed the EMR. The OB-GYN punished the EMR by replacing it, while the Board of Medicine punished the OB-GYN with a $20,000 fine, a risk management review, and 100 hours of community service. The board member, a dermatologist, said “”I think the Department of Health needs to put out a warning to physicians that they need to look at their programs’ default settings. This year we have seen as many if not more medical records violations from electronic medical records as we saw from hand-written records violations.” I’m not sure what benefit the Department of Hea... EMR and HIPAA blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3678588 Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:05:17 +0100 3678588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3656792&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fflorida-stays-date-bp-oil-spill-detailed-website%2F The state of Florida has a very complete and detailed daily summary of how the BP oil spill is affecting Florida beaches and waters and the latest health advisories. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3656792 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 00:05:15 +0100 3656792 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644693&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fhuge-deep-water-oil-plumes-threaten-longterm-environmental-health-harm%2F University of South Florida oceanographer Yonggang Liu and colleagues have reported huge deep water oil plumes from the BP oil spill drifting across the Gulf of Mexico that are likely to create kill zones and impact the food chain (especially larger fish) for years to come. Despite protestations by BP that most of the leaked oil is on the surface, Steven Murawski of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is confirming the presence of the plumes and the validity of the Liu’s data. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644693 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 23:00:33 +0100 3644693 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3632226&cid=t_103652_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fhealth-risks-women-bp-oil-spill-detailed%2F As oil has begun to wash up on the pristine powder sugar beaches of Florida, the health risks to pregnant women and children are detailed (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3632226 Fri, 04 Jun 2010 23:16:09 +0100 3632226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3625502&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoc-fix-blamed-on-doctors%2F2010.06.02 The American Medical Association will launch a multi-million-dollar ad campaign tomorrow to heighten pressure on Congress for a doc-fix bill. The American College of Physicians (ACP) reacted by calling for doctors to contact their member of Congress directly to let their voices be heard. Robert Centor, FACP, called for doctors to protest as well. (American Medical Association, American College of Physicians, DB’s Rants) Meanwhile, a Florida medical society predicts a crisis in that senior-laden state. The society cited but did not name eight primary care doctors who’ve stopped accepting Medicare patients this year, and 12 cardiologists who left private practice for employment elsewhere because of already reduced payments. Unbelievably, business columnist Steven Pearlstein sorte... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3625502 Wed, 02 Jun 2010 18:00:00 +0100 3625502 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585591&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FlP50jE4h0DI%2F By Ilya ShapiroSince I first issued my challenge to debate “anyone anytime anywhere” on the (un)constitutionality of Obamacare, a lot has happened.  For one thing, Randy Barnett and Richard Epstein, among many others, have published provoctive articles looking at issues beyond the Commerce Clause justification for the individual mandate — such as the argument that Congress’s tax power justifies the mandate penalty and that the new Medicaid arrangement amounts to a coercive federal-state bargain.  (Look for to a longish article from yours truly due to come out in next month’s issue of Health Affairs.)  For another, as Michael Cannon noted, seven more states — plus the National Federation of Independent Business and two individuals – have joined ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585591 Fri, 21 May 2010 00:33:05 +0100 3585591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3585594&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F0XOHW5lFkQY%2F By Ilya ShapiroOne quick addendum to my previous commentary on this week’s decision in Graham v. Florida the use of foreign law by U.S. courts: Toward the very end of Justice Kennedy’s majority opinion, in part D where he gratuitously nods to world opinion about juvenile life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences, he takes issue with one of the lesser arguments we make in our brief, that no international treaty prohibits such sentences.  (See page 31 of the Graham opinion — note that Cato itself is not mentioned because we were one of 13 groups signing the brief — and pages 14-16 of our brief.)  Kennedy says that the issue of whether international law prohibits the United States from imposing the juvenile LWOP sentences is beside the point, that the proper questio... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3585594 Thu, 20 May 2010 19:40:32 +0100 3585594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3577382&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9UpjEwYNT-A%2F By Ilya ShapiroOn Tuesday I discussed the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down laws that allow juveniles to be sentenced to life without parole (LWOP) for non-homicide crimes.  What concerns me here isn’t so much the morality or policy wisdom in applying such sentences — though Chief Justice makes some good policy points in his concurrence — or even the interpretation of what constitutes a “cruel and unusual punishment” — which I think Justice Kennedy mishandles in a confusing discussion of national consensuses.  No, the most troubling part of that case was the unfortunate reference to foreign authorities to support the Court’s interpretation of the Eighth Amendment.  Justice Kennedy notes that juvenile LWOP has been “rejecte... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3577382 Wed, 19 May 2010 12:51:00 +0100 3577382 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3573669&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FtLAseO5-J04%2F By Ilya ShapiroAs Wally points out in his Supreme Court/Kagan roundup, the Court did further damage to principled constitutional interpretation in citing foreign law as support for its holding that life-without-parole (LWOP) sentences are unconstitutional as applied to juveniles committing non-homicide crimes.  As I blogged when we filed a brief in the case, Graham v. Florida, “Cato takes no position on the wisdom of these types of sentences, but when evaluating their constitutionality the Court should only consider American law.” That is, regardless of the criminological or moral merits of juvenile LWOP sentences, the Court ought not consider non-binding provisions of international human rights treaties, other countries’ laws, or customary international law in its a... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3573669 Mon, 17 May 2010 20:31:00 +0100 3573669 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3564067&cid=t_103652_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Fhit-new-battle-between-david-and-goliath For healthcare policymakers, the perfect world would probably include a healthcare sector in which providers of all sizes worked together to make the transition to new HIT as quickly and efficiently as possible. But based on comments coming out of a conference in Florida this week, that doesn’t seem to be the case. The conference is the Spring Summit, sponsored by the Institute for Health Technology Transformation, that is being held this week in Fort Lauderdale. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3564067 Fri, 14 May 2010 13:58:24 +0100 3564067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3487001&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2F175098%2F Death by Prescription in Florida: TIME magazine reports that there are more pain clinics than McDonald’s in south Florida’s Broward County, and judging by the rate of oxycodine prescriptions and overdose-caused deaths, they’re handing out prescription drugs almost as easily as Big Macs. Post from: BlissTree (Source: Healthbolt) Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3487001 Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:25:54 +0100 3487001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3472048&cid=t_103652_151_f&fid=35797&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnewrecovery.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F04%2Fcatch-me-on-audreys-show.html Last August I had the privilege of being a guest on the Audrey Chapman show; see my blog post about it.  Today I had the honor of being invited back for a second appearance.  We recorded it today, and it'll air on Saturday, April 24 at 8 a.m. Eastern Standard Time, on WHUR-FM at 96.3 -- heard up and down the East Coast from Florida to New Jersey -- and via the Internet at http://www.whur.com.Audrey has a great touch.  I've not had the pleasure to meet her in person, but if I were looking for a counselor to tell my troubles to, Audrey would be high on my list.  She's empathetic, she's widely read and well informed, and she has a knack for getting to the core of an issue in a heartbeat.  Try and catch the program; it'll run about 45 minutes, and it's focuse... New Recovery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3472048 Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:49:00 +0100 3472048 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3448958&cid=t_103652_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Ftop-5-hipaa-5010-icd-10-hurdles It's no secret that the government mandated dynamic duo - that being HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 - requires changes enormous in both number and scope. What's not as well understood is all the challenges they present. HIPAA 5010 carries at least 1331 modifications spanning all 9 standard electronic transactions, while ICD-10 adds five times as many codes. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3448958 Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:17:47 +0100 3448958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416007&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FKsQzcQ3YE6w%2F By Chris MoodyHe did it again: Florida governor and senatorial candidate Charlie Crist cited Cato’s 2008 Governors’ Report Card as evidence of his fiscal conservative credentials, this time in a Fox News Sunday debate with his primary opponent Marco Rubio. Trouble is, the report card’s author, Chris Edwards, has gone on the record again and again explaining how Crist has fallen hard off the fiscal responsibility wagon since the report was released two years ago. The Florida media has publicized Edwards’ correction of the record numerous times since Crist began citing the Cato rating in his political ads. It is difficult to believe that Crist can be unaware of that. Here’s Edwards in October 2009: Since I wrote the report in mid-2008, the governor seems to have fallen off ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416007 Mon, 29 Mar 2010 15:46:03 +0100 3416007 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3408335&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=34872&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Ffeel%2Fmom-say-hello-to-my-shrink%2F What did we ever do without cell phones? They offer a welcome escape from awkward situations (run into ex, pretend to talk on cell) and boring meetings (thank you, texting), as well a dysfunctional addition to the bedroom. People openly (and annoyingly) text during movies and check Twitter during dinner dates. But there are a few sacred spaces left where cell phone use is verboten, including banks, wedding ceremonies, and your doctor’s office. Often, medical receptionists quickly reprimand patients who forget to silence their phones in the doctor’s waiting room. But not at the office of Dr. Barbara Schildkrout, a Boston-based psychiatrist. In her latest New York Times article this week, “In Therapy, Cell Phones Ring True,” she embraces the typically banished electronic device. ... Healthbolt blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3408335 Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:16:34 +0100 3408335 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3420568&cid=t_103652_111_f&fid=39123&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fnursingcomments%2Ftdtc%2F%7E3%2F-nSGu_fgE_E%2F I’m taking a break from the normal post today for two reasons: We are on vacation for a quick week in Marco Island, Florida! There is a contest at Lydia’s Uniforms blog for the best of the top 25 nursing blogs. First of all, the pictures are of my two sons, Ryland (22) and Kingsley (14).  Ryland is pictured with the longer hair; Kingsley is my ‘little’ one with shorter hair.  The picture of all three includes my father, Jerry (84).  He has rented a condominium here every winter for the last 28 years to get out of the beastly cold in Iowa!  He stated this was the coldest winter in southern Florida that he can remember in all of those years.  My youngest son was watching the news on the computer last night and learned that our home town had just received another ‘last blast�... Nursing Comments blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3420568 Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:29:46 +0100 3420568 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3374377&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FAp9DCFHjyqU%2F A Florida psychiatrist who treated a 7-year-old foster child before the boy committed suicide last year received an FDA warning letter for failing “to protect the rights, safety and welfare” of children enrolled in clinical trials, The Miami Herald reports. The Feb. 4 letter said Sohail Punjwani overmedicated children who were enrolled in clinical trials for undisclosed drugs. One girl, the letter said, slashed her wrists while hallucinating. And a 13-year-old, “experienced sedation and dizziness during the study,” according to the letter, which goes on to say Punjwani failed to “adhere to the applicable statutory requirements and FDA regulations governing the conduct of clinical investigations…Your failure to conduct the requisite safety measures contri... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3374377 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:14:55 +0100 3374377 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3247076&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F-qcvVCX9Zn4%2F To cover the cost of a settlement and other lawsuits related to Medicaid reimbursement, the world’s largest generic drugmaker is setting aside $315 million, although Teva hasn’t disclosed how much it will actually pay (here is the statement) and other lawsuits remain unresolved. In any event, the lawsuits, which allege Teva inflated the prices of drugs in order to get bigger Medicaid reimbursements, involved the federal government as well as the states of Florida, Texas, and California. The lawsuit was brought by Ven-A-Care of the Florida Keys, which in recent years has filed several suits against drugmakers, including Schering-Plough, Mylan Labs, Abbott Labs and Sanofi-Aventis. About 15 states are involved altogether. (Source: Pharmalot) Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3247076 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:04:44 +0100 3247076 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3216569&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FIenRBO4KjiQ%2F By Sallie JamesVia Cato’s Director of Government Affairs, Brandon Arnold, comes this [$] bold claim by the National Journal’s Congress Daily (although, to be fair, they are just quoting a press release): U.S. wheat promotion programs increase sales more than programs for other grains and agricultural products, according to an analysis of wheat export programs released this week. The study by Cornell University professor Harry Kaiser showed that for every dollar spent on wheat promotion, U.S. producers get $23 back in increased net revenue, Kaiser told U.S. Wheat Associates, which commissioned the study. With that sort of return on “investment”, the U.S. government should devote all of its revenue to wheat promotion as an ultra-quick revenue raising measure. Right af... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3216569 Wed, 27 Jan 2010 22:05:41 +0100 3216569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212562&cid=t_103652_135_f&fid=35274&url=http%3A%2F%2Facidrefluxweb.com%2F%3Fp%3D4323 Today I am welcoming the students of the University of South Florida’s online HIV/AIDS course. This post is a welcome, and a little explanation of Acid Reflux. If you click on the menu, “The Cast: Me” there is a short explanation of where I’m coming from. Basically name Acid Reflux originated the vision of Dame Edna during her off-broadway show where she sits down at a table with a couple of people from an audience. She had previously ordered in some food for them, and now they were up on the stage eating their dinners. Dame Edna sits down and starts getting an attack of acid reflux and grabs the napkin of the audience member at the table. This vision hit me considering I wanted to name this blog with 1) a name starting “A” and 2) something that stood ou... acidrefluxweb.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212562 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:15:10 +0100 3212562 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3171854&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Funiversity-president-on-commission.html The Miami Herald reported on the latest thing in executive compensation for leaders of academia (and academic medicine):Florida State University's new president will have a larger salary than his predecessor, T.K. Wetherell, and stands to make even more in bonuses as a reward for big-time fundraising.FSU trustees chairman Jim Smith confirmed Monday that Eric Barron has signed a contract that includes a base salary of $395,000 a year in state and private dollars, plus the chance to earn annual bonuses of $100,000 for every $100 million in private donations raised. He'll also get free housing and a car, Smith said, as well as a retention bonus of $200,000 after a few years.Housing and car allowances have become standard fare for university president contracts, and in recent years Florida's u... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3171854 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:08:00 +0100 3171854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3171830&cid=t_103652_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F01%2F13%2Fat-our-bodies-our-blog-emergency-contraception-for-military-women%2F At Our Bodies Our Blog, I have a post about proposed legislation to make emergency contraception available at all military health centers (as well as a somewhat cleaned up version of my post on the Florida court-ordered bed rest case – I can’t even say how much I love having an editor at OBOB). Posted in Abuse, Rape, & Safety, Access, Rights, & Choice, Birth, Contraception, Ethics, Laws, Legislation, & Courts, Pregnancy (Source: Women's Health News) Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3171830 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 00:31:21 +0100 3171830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153470&cid=t_103652_113_f&fid=38236&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.healthcareitnews.com%2Fblog%2Flooking-antennas-healthcare-m2m-gains An Irish company with offices in the U.S., Taiwan, Mexico and South Africa has rolled out what's being touted as the first flexible circuit loop antenna, which promises over 40 percent efficiency in healthcare monitoring devices. Taoglas, which designs and manufactures reduced size VHF and UHF antennas for satellite, cellular, Wi-Fi, and multi-band markets, says its new FLA.01 antenna is a penta-band cellular antenna that is embedded inside medical devices. (Source: Healthcare IT News Blog) Healthcare IT News Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153470 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:44:32 +0100 3153470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3101063&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FvHCjUUN-yas%2F The federal government has stopped reimbursing a Miami doctor who wrote nearly 97,000 prescriptions for mental health drugs - such as antipsychotics - to Medicaid patients over 18 months, the Associated Press reports. And the case has prompted Chuck Grassley, the Republican Senator from Iowa, to call for a nationwide investigation. Fernando Mendez-Villamil wrote an average of 153 prescriptions a day for 18 months ending in March 2009, according to Grassley. That’s nearly twice the number of the second highest prescriber in Florida, who wrote a little more than 53,000 prescriptions, according to a list compiled by state officials, the AP writes. Grassley, who is a ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Medicare and Medicaid, sent a letter this week to the Depar... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3101063 Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:59:11 +0100 3101063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3079430&cid=t_103652_114_f&fid=34646&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aoc.state.nc.us%2Fwww%2Fpublic%2Fcoa%2Fjsc%2Fpublicreprimands%2Fjsc08-234.pdf The Florida Judicial Ethics Advisory Committee issued JEAC Opinion 2009-20 on November 19, 2009, indicating that judges may not add lawyers who may appear before the judge as "friends" on a social networking site, nor may judges permit such lawyers to add the judges as their "friend".However, the Committee did not entirely ban judges from using social media tools. Judges may post comments and other materials on their social media pages as long as the materials do not otherwise violate the Code of Judicial Ethics.So, if you are a Florida judge using Facebook the answer to invitations to connect from lawyer colleagues must be "deny." Interesting decision that may have significant impact in the legal community as it relates to the use of social media tools by litigation lawyers.For more analy... Health Care Law Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3079430 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:06:03 +0100 3079430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3052125&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fl4ZoHP54eaE%2F Today, the Supreme Court heard argument in Stop the Beach Renourishment v. Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which is a Fifth Amendment Takings Clause challenge involving beachfront property (that I previously discussed here). Essentially, Florida’s ”beach renourishment” program created more beach but deprived property owners of the rights they previously had — exclusive access to the water, unobstructed view, full ownership of land up to the “mean high water mark,” etc. That is, the court turned beachfront property into “beachview” property.  After the property owners successfully challenged this action, the Florida Supreme Court – “SCOFLA” for those who remember the Bush v. Gore imbroglio – reve... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3052125 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:49:31 +0100 3052125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3026660&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpICOcVby19M%2F Unfortunately, that win comes as another blow to property rights: The last major obstacle to a groundbreaking for the $4.9 billion Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn fell Tuesday when New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, dismissed a challenge to the state’s use of eminent domain on behalf of the developer, Bruce C. Ratner. Mr. Ratner, whose 22-acre development has been delayed for three years by a flurry of lawsuits, the collapse of the credit and real estate markets and a glut of luxury housing, plans to begin selling tax-free bonds next month to finance the development’s cornerstone project: an 18,000-seat basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets at the intersection of Flatbush and Atlantic Avenues near downtown. Given the high-profile nature of the would-be new tena... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3026660 Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:40:14 +0100 3026660 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2930962&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fe8FSXQOtY1Y%2F Florida’s airwaves are alive with the sound of Governor Charlie Crist’s radio advertisement trumpeting his grade of “A” on Cato’s “Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors.” I am pleased that Gov. Crist values Cato’s ratings because we work hard to make them accurate and nonpartisan. But the radio ad is making many fiscally conservative Floridians scratch their heads because of the governor’s recent policy actions. The governor earned his Cato grade in last year’s report mainly because of his large property tax cuts and moderate spending approach. The grade was based purely on quantitative data on revenues, general fund spending, and tax rate changes. However, since I wrote the report in mid-2008, the governor seems to have fallen off the fisca... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2930962 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 21:29:02 +0100 2930962 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2832129&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F6C77Jt75yRk%2F With Gov. Deval Patrick’s appointment of longtime Kennedy courtier Paul Kirk to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s seat in the U.S. Senate, there are now at least three close aides holding on to Senate seats while their states go through the formality of an election. The governor of Delaware appointed Joe Biden’s longtime friend and former chief of staff to fill the rest of his term in the Senate. Can you name him? It is generally thought that he is obligingly holding on to the seat until Biden’s son Beau gets back from National Guard service and is able to run to succeed his father. And in Florida, Gov. Charlie Crist named his former chief of staff to fill the seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez until the 2010 election in which Crist is running for the seat. There are more ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2832129 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:12:49 +0100 2832129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2809873&cid=t_103652_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2F8VYI5Rywnvk%2Felly-lorey-alzheimers-murder-trial.html The verdict is in the Elly Lorey Alzheimer's murder trail. Kristen and Toby Fenn will serve less than two years for their heinous behavior. The Fenn's were convicted of the lesser charges of culpable negligence and abuse of an elderly person. Not guilty on the murder charge. Don't blame the Judge Stephen Rapp, he gave Kirsten and Toby Fenn the maximum allowable sentence of five years. With timed served the Fenn's could be released in a little over year. Kirsten and Toby Fenn both... This is a content summary. If you would like to comment click on the headline and add your comments in the box below the article. Thanks for reading. (Source: Alzheimer's Reading Room, The) Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2809873 Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:40:51 +0100 2809873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2800651&cid=t_103652_136_f&fid=35294&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.psa-rising.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F09%2Fintroducing-the-florida-prostate-cancer-connection%2F Phil Masley’s nifty two-page newsletter The Florida Prostate Cancer Connection can keep you (and your support groups) up to speed with Awareness events and more. Download the .pdf from link at the foot of this post. Not only during PC Awareness Month each September, but all year long (Source: psa-rising.com/blog) psa-rising.com/blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2800651 Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:22:16 +0100 2800651 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2796789&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=38374&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FePharmaSummit%2F%7E3%2FgjE7_VBeEzU%2Fcdc-uses-social-media-to-distribute.html (Source: ePharma Summit) ePharma Summit blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2796789 Tue, 15 Sep 2009 18:40:00 +0100 2796789 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2793365&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FdIEGaC-npC4%2F A new study on the siblings of children with autism is showing that signs associated with the behavioral disorder appear in babies in their first weeks of life. Preliminary research, at Australia-based Flinders University, studied the Photo courtesy Eccentric Scholar (flickr.com) behavior of infants who have an increased risk of developing autism from as young as 10 days, and preliminary results show children in an at-risk group (with an older sibling with an ASD, including Asperger’s) were developing different behavioral patterns from children from families with no history of autism. Autism affects up to 16 children per 10,000 in Australia. More is here. •   •   • The University of Central Florida’s College Internship Program in Melbourne, Fla., is yet another campu... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2793365 Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:05:19 +0100 2793365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2757730&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fci7lYPXBFzk%2F Cato Adjunct Scholar and Pacific Legal Foundation Senior Staff Attorney Tim Sandefur published an excellent op-ed in the National Law Journal this week on the upcoming Supreme Court case Stop the Beach Renourishment v. Florida Department of Environmental Protection: The case involves a Florida statute determining the boundaries of oceanfront property. Under a 1961 law, the state drew a brand-new line separating public and private land on certain beaches, meaning that some land that would have been privately owned would belong instead to the state. A group of property owners filed suit, arguing that the law deprived them of property without just compensation, violating the state and federal constitutions. Last December, Florida’s highest court rejected their arguments. It held that, w... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2757730 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:06:05 +0100 2757730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441177&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpM0KU8LkYNk%2F Libertarians often disagree with their non-libby friends about the need for government-mandated occupational licensing in fields like medicine. The idea behind such licensing is that the government has a compelling interest in protecting citizens and that licensing actually achieves that end. The evidence is not as cut and dried on the latter point as many people assume, but at least there’s enough meat there to warrant a discussion. Whatever you think about occupational licensing in the context of medicine, there’s one field where the government’s “compelling interest” — and ability to successfully execute on it – is particularly hard to defend: interior design. In three U.S. states, government officials are, right now, “protecting&#82... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441177 Thu, 28 May 2009 12:45:29 +0100 2441177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2442155&cid=t_103652_125_f&fid=38161&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dentalheroes.com%2Ftooth-decay-child-neglect%2F The Back Story According to HeraldTribune.com, a Florida mother has been booked on felony child neglect charges for failing to seek proper treatment for her daughter’s severe tooth decay. The little girl dealt with tooth pain for more than a year before her grandmother suggested to the offender, Tamika S. White, that she take the child to the dentist. Heeding her mother’s advice, Ms. White took her daughter to see a dentist about her tooth pain. The dentist diagnosed the child’s condition as “bottle mouth,” a common form of tooth decay found in infants and toddlers. At this point, Ms. White was informed that Medicaid coverage would not pay for the treatment - which is incidently quite common these days. Ms. White refused to attempt to collect child support pa... Dental Heroes blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2442155 Fri, 22 May 2009 02:50:23 +0100 2442155 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441453&cid=t_103652_97_f&fid=35606&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.theangriestpharmacist.com%2F2009%2F05%2F20%2Fwalgreens-has-power%2F I knew this was coming, but I wasn’t sure of much else. Walgreens has begun outsourcing prescription filling to off-site pharmacies for orders to be picked up the next day. The program is called POWER (per an email I received from a WAG slave named Alex). He says: …they are on the verge of implementing a new centralized script filling program called POWER. The corporate propaganda makes this program sound like this is going to be the greatest innovation to the practice of pharmacy since snap-cap-vials. But the rumors that are filtering from the front line staff in Florida make it sound like the whole thing is a giant clusterf., and pharmacists and patients are bailing from Walgreens in droves…I’ve tried to call pharmacists directly, but you can’t get through t... The Angriest Pharmacist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441453 Wed, 20 May 2009 23:30:15 +0100 2441453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2386824&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F8BmK_shbBcw%2F …and let slip the dollars of stimulus! As has been the case from almost the first day of major federal involvement in education, public schools have gamed the system to get as much money — and as little accountability — as possible. As this article from Florida makes clear, that tradition is still going strong! (Source: Cato-at-liberty) Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2386824 Mon, 04 May 2009 14:26:18 +0100 2386824 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382230&cid=t_103652_86_f&fid=34445&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomenshealthnews.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F02%2Fthis-is-important-florida-legislature-eliminates-funding-for-libraries%2F In the Florida legislature yesterday, “House and Senate negotiators agreed to wipe out state funding for public libraries.” See the Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Libraries Lose Funding The elimination of funding is expected to cause closings, layoffs, and reduced hours in remaining branches, and creates a question about matching funds received by the libraries. From the Suwannee Democrat, Suwannee River Regional Library Director Danny Hales points out that libraries have become even more crucial to their communities in hard economic times: “We’re at our all-time high usage because of the economy. We’re hearing things like, ‘I’ve cut off my Internet because we’re on food stamps.’” The Florida Library Association is all over it. In their press release (PDF), they ... Women's Health News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382230 Sat, 02 May 2009 14:12:19 +0100 2382230 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380736&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FcqV-tk4Ahuo%2F When the Florida Legislature passed its education tax credit program in 2001, only one Democrat supported the measure. Last year, the legislature expanded the program with votes from one third of statehouse Democrats, half the black caucus and the entire Hispanic caucus. Last week, nearly half of House Democrats —47 percent—voted to significantly expand the revenue base for the state’s business donation tax credit program. House Republicans voted 100 percent in favor. And yesterday, nearly a third of Senate Democrats—31 percent—voted to expand the tax credit program. And 92 percent of their Republican colleagues voted for the bill. In all, 43 percent of state Democratic legislators voted in favor of education tax credits. Governor Crist is expected to sign the bill shortly. T... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380736 Wed, 29 Apr 2009 19:12:09 +0100 2380736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2376715&cid=t_103652_136_f&fid=36032&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.everydayhealth.com%2Fblog%2Flife-with-breast-cancer%2Fa-true-breast-cancer-hero%2F It was a great weekend finally as far as weather is concerned in southeast Michigan. Although the warm weather brought in some late day thunderstorms, we got almost two days of sun. I got to work on my yard and set up my pond for the season, but I also took some time out for a boat ride with my husband. We take the boat out to the Detroit River through a canal from the marina. We also have to pass by a city park where people line the water to fish. I have to say the highlight of the ride was having the opportunity to cruise by the most amazing woman who was fishing by the river. She was sitting with her husband with her fishing pole set into the water. I’ll never forget her fabulous smile as she waved to me while we passed by in the boat. This woman had the ability in that moment to show... Life with Breast Cancer blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2376715 Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:18:10 +0100 2376715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2364917&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fm2fJhXkh_VY%2F Just when I was getting so jaded by federal education politics that I could have been displayed as part of this exhibit, the Sunshine State comes along and brightens my day. It’s not just that the Florida Assembly voted to strenghten its k-12 scholarship tax credit program yesterday, it’s that the vote was 94 to 23. In addition to almost universal Republican support, the bill garnered the votes of half the entire state Democratic caucus! As I wrote on this blog last year, “the [school choice] times they are a changin’.” Democrats in Washington don’t understand that yet. Perhaps they spend too much time with DC’s NEA lobbyiests. Whatever the reason, the long term health of the Democratic Party depends on its celebration  of its pro-school-cho... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2364917 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:10:57 +0100 2364917 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2349593&cid=t_103652_137_f&fid=35426&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheAlzheimersReadingRoom%2F%7E3%2FIHDxa1ssBxU%2Fbyrd-alzheimers-center-on-ropes.html The Johnnie B. Byrd Sr. Alzheimer's Center and Research Institute is desperate for state funding.The "Byrd", like an endangered species, is in danger of losing their federal designation as an Alzheimer's research center if they can't convince the Florida state legislature to pony up funding.The problem is the institute's prized designation as an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center is up for renewal next month. As an ARDC, the Byrd Institute gets a five-year, $7.5 million grant, access to national research data, the prestige to attract top researchers, clinical trials and more.I'll have to go check, but I believe their are over 400,000 persons in Florida suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia. It seems somewhat odd that the State wouldn't see the value of a research institution like the By... Alzheimer's Reading Room, The blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2349593 Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:01:51 +0100 2349593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2172870&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Famidst-budget-woes-university-leaders.html Two stories recently appeared about the incentives given to top academic leaders.First, from the San Francisco Chronicle, about the University of California system (which includes several medical schools and other health care related academic institutions):UC Berkeley officials have acknowledged misleading the public in the controversial case of a high-paid executive aide who left her job at the university's headquarters and the next day began a new job on the Cal campus - qualifying for a $100,202 severance check along the way.In November, when the severance payment became public, The Chronicle asked for an explanation of how Linda Morris Williams could get a buyout for leaving her $200,400-a-year headquarters job in Oakland and starting her new job paying the same salary in the office of... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2172870 Mon, 09 Feb 2009 21:12:00 +0100 2172870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2074311&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlCxl1pmVf30%2F Discussion was dominated by two stories, that of 13-year-old Adam Race, against whose parents a priest filed a restraining order, and of 5-year-old Alex Barton, who was voted out of his kindergarden class by his classmates, at the suggestion of his teacher, Wendy Portillo. These two incidents sparked some very heated and often acrimonious exchanges and remind me of why there’s a need to think about autistic persons and the community, in faith communities and all others. Also: It was reported that there had been 72 cases of measles so far in the US, the highest number since 2001—-and the number would only go up, while misinformation about vaccines continued. Sometimes it seems that everything, if not anything, could be said to cause autism (and that everything, and anything, has... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2074311 Wed, 31 Dec 2008 02:47:21 +0100 2074311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2065375&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FQ6lXwrLKdxg%2F Am off to visit the cemetery where my grandfather, Yeh Yeh, great-grandmother, Bak Bak, great aunt, another great grandmother, a very good friend of the family, and many other great relatives are, and then out to lunch in Chinatown with cousins, aunts, uncles and (hopefully, if she’s up to it), my grandmother, Ngin Ngin, who’s 104. It’s always good to be with family—today’s St. Petersburg Times describes the bond between 12-year-old twins, Anthony and Ryan Moran. Ryan is autistic and Anthony is his constant companion: Most of the time it’s good having a twin, Anthony insists. You always have someone to talk to, even if the other person can’t really talk back. Ryan understands everything. “Only sometimes he doesn’t care what you’re... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2065375 Thu, 25 Dec 2008 19:12:26 +0100 2065375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2052840&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F3ewwARh2ST4%2F The Florida legislature has declared the first half of October as Disability History and Awareness Weeks, today’s West Volusia Beacon notes. Indeed, the legislature is said to be “trying to change the negative image, perception and treatment of people with disabilities.” The article highlights programs for disabled students throughout the county, such as Deltona High School’s Multi-VE program. VE stands for varying exceptionalities. Multi-VE students’ disabilities and challenges include hearing or language impairments, mental handicaps, emotional and behavioral disorders, multiple physical handicaps and disorders all across the autism spectrum. Located in Building Z on the 92-acre campus, Deltona High School’s Multi-VE program serves more than 50 students, ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2052840 Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:51:37 +0100 2052840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2046916&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FhaC9uTz-zfE%2F With legislation for insurance for “autism treatment” under consideration around the country (in Virginia, in Florida, in Illinois), a question: The “treatment” called for is principally in the form of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). What other treatments might you wish to see covered and how might they be justified as the sort of treatment and therapy that health insurance must provide for? Tags: ABA, asd, asperger syndrome, autism, florida, illinois, Insurance, pdd-nos, virgniaShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2046916 Thu, 18 Dec 2008 02:24:31 +0100 2046916 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2033265&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FfbXMZNloCH8%2F An editorial in today’s Palm Beach Post reports that Alex Barton’s mother is hopeful that a request for private schooling will be settled soon. A “bigger problem” is also noted: The bigger problem, as public schools have to deal with more problems with less money, will be seeing that all children get the testing and help that they need - without wasting a lot of time. If Alex had received help more quickly, the Survivor scandal might never have happened. If training about autism and special needs kids in the classroom had been provided……… if there’d been more and real understanding of what it’s really like to have Asperger’s Syndrome……. if…………… Tags: alex barton, asd, asperger, autism, aut... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2033265 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:11:18 +0100 2033265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017514&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Fblogscan-car-allowances-and-country.html On the University Diaries blog, Margaret Soltan posted on the perks afforded to top leaders, including the medical school dean, at the University of South Florida(USF). These included country club memberships, and car allowances at $650/ month. The rationale seemed to be that the administrators need to appear to be rich in order to hob-nob with the sort of rich folk needed as donors. The perks have continued even though the state-supported university is facing budget cuts. I would comment that these perks might also be based on university executives' sense of entitlement to being at least on the fringe of the power elite, or superclass. This sense might truly be fed by their contact with even more wealthy people who might be prospective donors, and the sorts of masters of the universe who ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017514 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:58:00 +0100 2017514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1996400&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FdKUtaOBqYn8%2F 1049 cases of measles have been reported in England and Wales so far this year, the highest number in 13 years and exceeding the number on 2007, when there were 990 case. Today’s Guardian reports that health officials are seriously concerned about a possible epidemic of measles of between 30,000 - 100,000 cases. Measles has been spreading more easily because of the “relatively low uptake” of the MMR vaccine in the past decade: The fall in uptake of MMR was triggered by now-discredited research claiming there was a link between the jab and autism. Health officials in the UK are planning a mass vaccination program in some areas. The Daily Mail quotes Guy Hayhurst, consultant in public health at a local Primary Care Trust, as saying that they have identified 10,534 children ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1996400 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:31:22 +0100 1996400 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1990890&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fq24DYqSafHc%2F Back in May, 5-year-old Alex Barton was voted out of his kindergarten class by his classmates. His teacher, Wendy Portillo, had asked the students to vote on whether they wanted Alex to remain. Alex’s mother, Melissa Barton, removed Alex from the school following this incident, which received a great deal of attention in the national media. Portillo has been suspended for a year without pay and is asking that her her case be reviewed by the state Division of Administrative Hearings. Alex is now being taught at home and Melissa Barton is requesting that the St. Lucie County School District pay for private school, psychological testing and counseling for him, as reported in today’s Palm Beach Post: Barton filed a complaint with the district in late August seeking an administrativ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1990890 Thu, 27 Nov 2008 01:01:17 +0100 1990890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1975226&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F17r3Rs2jV_k%2F Florida teacher Wendy Portillo—who allowed her kindergarten class to vote on whether or not their classmate Alex Barton could remain in class—-has been suspended without pay for a year, according to the Naples News. More commentary at Aspie Web. Tags: alex barton, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Education, florida, Health, survivor, wendy portilloShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1975226 Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:41:56 +0100 1975226 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1918057&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FTm-5A9tWWkc%2F In Collier County, Florida, parents have accused the school district of having a “carefully orchestrated strategy to keep special needs students out of the district.” Yesterday’s WINK news reports that the Federal Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has sent a letter to the Collier School District recommending changes as to how the district informs parents of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (here’s a PDF file of that latter). WINK news describes what happened to teenager Derek Hughes, who was diagnosed with autism and who also started to have seizures while a middle school student in the Collier School District. Then: “His seizure activity resulted in an ER visit because no one in school was trained properly to deal wi... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1918057 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 20:00:18 +0100 1918057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1866506&cid=t_103652_136_f&fid=37852&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdonnatrussell.com%2F2008%2F10%2F09%2Fonly-yesterday%2F : An Informal History of the 1920s is an excellent book by former editor of Harper’s magazine. Author Frederick Lewis Allen shows such insight into this era you’d think it was published decades later instead of in 1931. The website contains the whole book for you to read — free! (I bought a used book, but it’s so old it’s literally crumbling.) Chapters:  1. Prelude: May, 1919. 2. Back to Normalcy 3. The Big Red Scare 4. America Convalescent 5. The Revolution in Manners and Morals 6. Harding and the Scandals 7. Coolidge Prosperity 8. The Ballyhoo Years 9. The Revolt of the Highbrows 10. Alcohol and Al Capone 11. Home, Sweet Florida 12. The Big Bull Market 13. Crash! 14. Aftermath: 1930-31 Excerpt from the chapter on Florida land speculation of the mid-1920s: T... Donna Trussell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1866506 Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:09:05 +0100 1866506 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1868578&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fweym2Zyqu54%2F This post references an article from back in May in the Herald Tribune, but the topic is as timely as ever: Have you ever visited your child’s classroom and noted that the aide your child most liked is long gone, and that there’s at least one new aide, if not two? The Herald Tribune notes that there have been at least four substitute teachers for students in a special ed class, after their teacher was arrested on allegations of child abused in February. The article comments on the high turnover rate of special education teachers: The turnover rate among special-needs teachers is one of the highest in the profession, with Florida losing about 14 percent of the educators in this area each year. The high stress of the job, along with what teachers say is limited support and resour... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1868578 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:00:49 +0100 1868578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1851057&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F9d2FwrvtijA%2F Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) has commissioned what is described as the “first national survey of attitudes toward autism.” Today’s Physorg notes some highlights of the report; more results of the survey will be revealed at an autism conference to be held at FIT this weekend. The Scott Center for Autism Treatment is located at FIT. Its College of Psychology and Liberal Arts, which commissioned the survey, offers a graduate program in Applied Behavior Analysis. Looking at what Physorg reports about the survey’s result, there’s a lot of confusion out there about what causes autism and what it is. 1000 men and women who were 21 years old or older were randomly selected from throughout the nation and information was gathered via telephone interviews conduc... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1851057 Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:03:22 +0100 1851057 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812829&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FeHoE4cXgOOg%2F 20-year-old Kevin Brinegar, who has autism, stabbed his mother, Karen Brinegar, twice in the back last Monday, the September 21st Miami Herald reports. He is charged with aggravated battery charges and is being held on a $50,000 bond at North Broward Bureau (FL), a minimum-security facility for the mentally ill and medically infirm. Expert and legal opinions vary about what Kevin Brinegar faces: Dr. Stephen Edelson, director of the Autism Research Institute, expressed concern about the level of care Brinegar has received, and will receive in the future. ”There’s a general feeling that in the criminal justice field, there’s some discrimination going on,” Edelson said. “They are not treated fairly.” Also, police often don’t understand those with auti... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812829 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 05:52:14 +0100 1812829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812832&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FxxBPQWjcaXk%2F 5-year-old Kaitlin Bacile went missing Saturday and was found dead in a pond behind her home Sunday, WPLG reports. Kaitlin had autism and lived in Wellington (FL). A couple of days ago, AutismParents.net asked if the water rescue of a 13-year-old autistic boy and his father “downplayed the risk of autistic children drowning. Learning to swim is more than necessary, and perhaps all the more so as many autistic children are drawn to water—-the mother of an autistic boy who drowned, founded an organization, Christopher Connections, whose goals include “promoting the important of swimming lessons for autistic children, creates “opportunities for affordable swim lessons for children with ASDs from qualified, certified swim instructors.” Thinking a lot about Kaitlin and her... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812832 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 16:07:45 +0100 1812832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1811353&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FwBgIDRW4Wdc%2F The Extreme Kindness Project was created to provide Dan and Brenda Harris, whose 8-year-old triplet daughters all have autism, with a much needed makeover for their home in upstate New York, WTVH reports. Donations have poured in from the community and plans are underway to break ground in two weeks to build an addition to the Harris’ house. (Currently, their 12-year-old son, Sam, sleeps in the basement.) You can also see a video. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1811353 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 20:11:11 +0100 1811353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1786016&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FmoZdM1tDAuk%2F I haven’t been able to get Christopher Marino and his father, Walter Marino, off my mind; I keep thinking of what was it like to be in the water, treading the water, for hour upon hour? And in the dark, throughout the night, first together via the call-and-response of lines from Disney movies Toy Story in particular)? And I have to say it: What happened to Christopher—being caught in a rip tide and and swept out to sea—-is something that I have thought could happen to Charlie. Swimming in the ocean is one of Charlie’s most favorite things to do and he’s very often the farthest out. Jim’s always with him, though this year was the first that it became quite apparent that we can’t really keep up with Charlie in the water. I know that if Charlie ever... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1786016 Fri, 12 Sep 2008 07:04:33 +0100 1786016 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1782714&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FlZaR4I5_ZkE%2F If you haven’t read the story on CNN (and also check out MSNBC; thanks, Linda!) of 13-year-old Christopher Marino who treaded water for 15 hours after being caught in a rip tide and swept out to sea eight miles off the coast of Volusia County in Florida—-go here. Christopher and his father, Walter Marino—who treaded water for 12 hours before being found by the Coast Guard—stayed together after darkness fell by calling out phrases from Disney movies: “To infinity,” Marino shouted, referencing one of Christopher’s favorite lines from the movie “Toy Story.” “And beyond,” Christopher shouted back, pumping his fist in the air like movie character Buzz Lightyear. But after an hour, Christopher’s voice faded and his father fe... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1782714 Wed, 10 Sep 2008 19:06:01 +0100 1782714 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1782893&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F387884584%2F Earlier this summer, the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration reviewed new guidelines on paying for antipsychotic drugs for children. This came after newspaper stories detailed that the number of kids in the program prescribed the meds had nearly doubled between 2000 and 2006. however, the most common primary diagnosis was ADHD, an ailment not approved for using the meds. The agency proposed rule changes to permit Medicaid reimbursement under one of two circumstances: if an antipsychotic has an FDA-approved use or is listed in an official compendium or - and this is the new twist - if prior authorization is granted. Both moves would continue to make it possible for very young children to receive antipsychotics. Only Johnson & Johnson’s Risperdal is approved for childr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1782893 Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:17:43 +0100 1782893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1773253&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F0lbcmLN65ZA%2F Yes, 15 hours. That’s how long 13-year-old Chris Marino treaded water eight miles off the coast of Volusia County in Florida, after he and his father, Walter Marino, were swept out to sea Saturday night, First Coast News reports. Walter Marino was rescued by the Coast Guard after treading water for 12 hours. He was dehydrated; Chris Marino’s condition was not immediately known. “The family said they’re still in shock both father and son survived,” says the First Coast News. It really seems miraculous but, needless to say, I’m very glad to be reporting that Walter and Chris are safe, and back on land. Very. Share This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1773253 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 04:56:45 +0100 1773253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739256&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F8w90b5rtMkY%2F Yesterday I wrote about a study on ultrasonic vocalizations in BTBR mice, who are one “mouse model” of autism. The August 27th Science Daily describes another study that looks at how babies respond to words and vocalizations with repeated sounds. University of British Columbia post-doctoral fellow Judith Gervain and researchers from Italy and Chile documented the activity of 22 newsborns (2-3 days old) on hearing recordings of made-up words. The researchers mixed words that end in repeating syllables – such as “mubaba” and “penana” – with words without repetition – such as “mubage” and “penaku.” They found increased brain activities in the temporal and left frontal areas of the newborns’ brain whenever the repetitious ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739256 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 07:58:20 +0100 1739256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1734065&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fghr62-l5nQM%2F An autistic 10-year-old wanders away from his elementary school in Lantana, Florida, on Monday and no one notices; he walks home alone in the rain. More details are at WPTV.com: Needless to say, his mother, Tatrisha Williams, is more than concerned. The response from the Palm Beach County School District spokesperson is that a mistake was made and “‘it won’t happen again.’” Or rather: It shouldn’t have happened in the first place. About.com has a recent post about autistic children who wander. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Family, family blog, florida, missing children, palm beach, Parenting, pdd-nos, schoolShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1734065 Tue, 26 Aug 2008 15:43:34 +0100 1734065 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1726416&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FfepgZeMOD5E%2F Retired Fort Myers physician John R. Agnew goes a step beyond the argument attributing the increase in autism to better diagnosis and awareness in today’s News-Press—–it’s also due to families increasingly seeking “government money.” Writes Agnew, “Once the government gets involved, money follows, along with rules and some bureaucratic thinking.” He does not specify what form “government money” for autistic children might take; he references Thomas Sowell’s argument that the increase in autism is too many children who are really “late-talking” are being given an autism diagnosis. Considering the emotional and other resources that are expended in seeking services for an autistic child, and in getting an official d... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1726416 Fri, 22 Aug 2008 16:41:03 +0100 1726416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1723508&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2Fai92Q4NHT7I%2F The prevalence rate for autism among children in the US is 1 in 150, according to the most recently released figured from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2007. The 1 in 150 figure is based on data from the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM); the figure represents an average of ASD prevalence among states participating in the project. On its website about ASD prevalence, the CDC states: In 2006, 224,594 children ages 6-21 and 35,111 children ages 3-5 were served under the “autism” classification for special education services[2]. Not all children with an ASD receive special education services under the classification of “autism,” so the education data underestimate the actual prevalence of ASDs [my emphasis]. For more inform... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1723508 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:49:31 +0100 1723508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1683093&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F-8H3n90TS-E%2F Our visit to the optometrist was inconclusive. She was able to test Charlie for acuity—-he’s 20/20 in his right eye and 20/25 in his left—-but, as she no longer dilates patients’ eyes (I gathered that the repetitive stress on her hands from gently coaxing kids to open their eyes for years had take something of a toll) and so could not do a full exam. Charlie, for the past few months (since around May) has been squinting a lot, sometimes both eyes, sometimes the left or right only. During the exam, he was squinting almost non-stop, so it wasn’t possible to examine his eyes too much. The optometrist noted that his right eye looks like it is looking out and away from the direction his other eye is; she’s noted in the past that Charlie’s eyes don&#8217... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1683093 Tue, 05 Aug 2008 23:28:32 +0100 1683093 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1679441&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FKVOPgXTrZqg%2F In 2005, a girl named Danielle was found amid the most literal squalor and neglect. She weighed 46 pounds and was malnourished and anemic, and  was taken from the rented house where she lived with her mother, her mother’s boyfriend, and older brothers. She was first placed in a group home, and then–8 years old and non-verbal and needing a lot of care—adopted by Bernie and Diane Lierow. An extensive report by the St. Petersburg Time describes Danielle as a “feral child,” a term once used to describe children in previous centuries who may, or may not have been, autistic. Danielle has been diagnosed with “environmental autism” and is making slow progress living her new family. Here is more coverage of her story which, in its account of shocking abuse... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1679441 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:05:37 +0100 1679441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1677229&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FY4SqzaCe8oc%2F Maybe that’s where some of us (many of us?) wish we could make a brief visit to actually get that elusive thing called “sleep.” “Bedland” is  the title of this mattress-filled print by Andrea Shear—the mattress in the print has been turned into a soft slide. From time to time, Charlie’s done exactly the same thing, pulling off sheets and blankets and plastic cover and then the mattress: Insta-playground. Jim and I mean to get Charlie a new, a full-sized bed soon. As anyone who sees Charlie and me walking side by side, Charlie is taller than me and clearly needs room to spread out. Guess that would mean he could have a double-sized slide, not to mention more room to set his favorite things as he settles to sleep, and I won’t be hearing so man... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1677229 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:00:57 +0100 1677229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1671586&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F352015989%2F Earlier today I wrote about the need for services for autistic adults as the big concern on my mind. This story about a home-care worker caught on video slamming a plastic ball and plastic hammer into the head of an autistic man says why. Tags: abuse, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, disabilities blog, disability, Family, family blog, florida, Health, home care, Parenting, pdd-nos, south carolinaShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1671586 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:02:35 +0100 1671586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1668490&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F350998275%2F No. TV does not cause autism. Reports of a study about this theory were everywhere in the fall of 2006, after the study’s authors posted their (then yet unpublished paper) on their website. Since then, the study’s been referred to as “just plain stupid” and has been more recently cited here. And it’s also been noted that the “TV causes autism” study implicitly blames parents who just let the TV do the parenting, or at least some babysitting. If by chance any of you drop into my living room/Jim’s work space/Charlie’s space, and if you have the TV-autism theory in mind, you need fear not. We don’t have a TV. In fact, we don’t have a VCR and Charlie, the boy who is being taught to play Nintendo (don’t worry, I am saying n... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1668490 Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:26:07 +0100 1668490 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1660826&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F349209469%2F In a Sunday post on camp and indepenence, Shay asked about what kind of Extended School Year (ESY) program Charlie has. Charlie’s had a very good summer so far in his program, and even because of it. Thursday will be his last day and I think we’ll all be missing seeing the yellow school bus drive up. Charlie’s ESY program is a continuation of his regular school year program. Aside from a shorter day (9am - 1pm) and weekly fields trips (beading, bowling, movie, ice skating, meal in a restaurant), everything is pretty much the same as during the regular school year. The teachers in the autism program in our school district have (as I understand it) 12-month-contracts instead of 10-month ones: Working in ESY is part of the job description. Charlie also has the same speech th... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1660826 Tue, 29 Jul 2008 07:38:52 +0100 1660826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1658173&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F347810096%2F So what do you pack besides extra patience—-as noted in an article in today’s Ledger (Florida)—-when you hit the road/maybe not so friendly skies/boat/etc. with an autistic relative? Tags: Airplane, asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, car, cruise ship, disabilities blog, disability, disneyworld, Family, family blog, florida, Health, Parenting, pdd-nos, TravelShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1658173 Sun, 27 Jul 2008 23:00:09 +0100 1658173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1634974&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F338807823%2F It seems no wonder that right wing talker Michael Savage’s last name is, well, “Savage” after reading what he said about autism on his radio show. I’ll list the words he uses to refer to autism: moron, putz, idiot, fool, dummy, a girl, losers, beaten men More of Savage’s savagery is quoted on Left Brain/Right Brain. If Savage’s intent was to shock, using such words about autistic children is a no-brainer way to do it and perhaps ratings will spike as rightfully indignant autistic self-advocates and parents of autistic children respond. What troubles me in particular is Savage’s contention that autistic children are just brats behaving badly, and brats parented by laissez-faire “let it be” types of parents, especially in the wake of more... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1634974 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:22:44 +0100 1634974 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1594239&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=36941&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mazecordblood.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D34 This study demonstrates just one potential of cord blood banking.  We were excited to help Dr. Haller recruit patients and we really believe in the potential of autologous cord blood treatments. (Source: Cord Blood News) Cord Blood News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1594239 Mon, 07 Jul 2008 18:54:25 +0100 1594239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1553077&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F322097496%2F Something that has been particularly bothering me about 2-year-old Jarret Farrell and his mother being removed from an American Eagle airplane earlier this week is (according to news reports) a flight attendant repeatedly tugging on the toddler’s seatbelt to tighten it, while “reprimanding and yelling.” It’s this kind of physical—excessively physical—force that is too often used on autistic children in the form of restraints like the basket hold as well as isolating measures like timeout rooms and a concrete quiet room. It might seem like “just what should be done” to control a child who’s tantrumming. It’s not. A June 23rd Ed News article by Families Against Restraint and Seclusion (in Florida) addresses these practices head-on: ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1553077 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 16:21:21 +0100 1553077 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543933&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F319660706%2F A long-awaited meeting will be held today in Florida to discuss changing state guidelines on paying for antipsychotic drugs for children. At stake is the future treatment of more than 18,000 Florida children who receive atypical antipsychotics for conditions ranging from ADHD to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The number of children in the Florida Medicaid program prescribed the powerful drugs has nearly doubled from 9,364 kids in 2000 to 18,137 in 2006, according to published reports. Among those children, the most common primary diagnosis has been ADHD, an ailment not approved for treatment with antipsychotics by the FDA, which is a key reason the meeting is being held. However, the state Agency for Health Care Administration has been maneuvering around the topic even before today&#8... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543933 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:12:44 +0100 1543933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492328&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F303727131%2F A group of drugmakers are lobbying Governor Charlie Crist to veto a proposed study to compare the effectiveness of generics with brand-name meds, The Jacksonville Business Journal reports. The Coalition for Affordable Prescriptions says the study will be “intentionally written to deliver a biased conclusion that will keep FDA-approved, safe, effective and affordable generic prescriptions from Florida consumers.” The proposed study was added in provisional language to the General Appropriations Act by state rep Ellyn Bogdanoff, a Republican from Fort Lauderdale, requiring the Florida Department of Health to commission a study of the Florida Pharmacy Practice Act, which outlines rules for pharmacies. So far, Crist has not acted on the measure. Bogdanoff tells the paper she adde... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492328 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:21:54 +0100 1492328 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1492140&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F303471748%2F An editorial in today’s Palm Beach Post about 5-year-old Alex Barton being voted out of his kindergarten class quotes Michael Lannon, Superintendent of Port St. Lucie, along with more details from the police report: After he was voted out of the class, according to the police report, Alex went to the school nurse’s office. The nurse and school secretary said that Alex “mentioned to them about being voted out of class 14 to 2.” However, Ms. Barton says, she found out only when her son told her. She then filed a complaint that triggered several investigations. Alex told the school police officer: “Mrs. Portillo said, ‘I hate you right now. I don’t like you today.”” Ms. Portillo told the officer that while Alex was out of the room earlier ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1492140 Tue, 03 Jun 2008 05:50:12 +0100 1492140 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1480914&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F301248152%2F A recently named state panel will meet next month to discuss changing state guidelines on paying for antipsychotic drugs for children, The Daytona Beach News Journal reports. At stake is the future treatment of more than 18,000 children in Florida currently receiving atypical antipsychotics medication for conditions ranging from ADHD to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, the paper writes. The number of children in the Florida Medicaid program prescribed the powerful drugs has nearly doubled from 9,364 kids in 2000 to 18,137 in 2006, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported in January. Among those children, the most common primary diagnosis was ADHD, an ailment not approved for treatment with antipsychotics by the FDA. Current state guidelines indicate that Medicaid will pay for a drug on... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1480914 Fri, 30 May 2008 13:11:04 +0100 1480914 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1466117&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F296903770%2F Amber Altemose, who has autism, has been missing from her home in Live Oak, Florida, since approximately 8pm Thursday evening, WCTV reports. I remember last October when Jacob Allen was missing and found—-hope Amber is soon. Tags: asd, asperger, autism, autism blog, florida, kids, missing children, pdd-nos, SafetyShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1466117 Fri, 23 May 2008 23:47:20 +0100 1466117 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1419292&cid=t_103652_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F04%2Fthe-psychogeography-of-the-usa%2F Richard Florida is a researcher and author whose column, Where Do All the Neurotics Live?, appears in today’s Boston Globe. The article offers some interesting insights into the potential “psychogeography” of the United States. Psychologists have shown that human personalities can be classified along five key dimensions: agreeableness, conscientiousness, extroversion, neuroticism, and openness to experience. And each of these dimensions has been found to affect key life outcomes from life expectancy and divorce to political ideology, job choices and performance, and innovation and creativity. These are referred to as the “Big Five” personality factors by psychologists and can generally be measured by a test called the NEO-FFI, NEO PI-R, or something along... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1419292 Sun, 04 May 2008 19:41:23 +0100 1419292 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1405398&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F279761777%2F So what do you do if your state passes autism legislation (as my state, New Jersey, did in September of 2007) and then it gets stalled by budget cuts—-when the bill gets passed but there’s no funding as it’s an austere buget year” ? In Florida, the Window of Opportunity Act was passed by the Senate last week—and today’s Palm Beach Post reports on the hurdles it now faces in the House: State House leaders acknowledged Monday that the state doesn’t have the money to have Medicaid and Healthy Kids cover all Florida children with autism. But they still oppose the Senate plan that would immediately require private health insurers to cover autism treatment. Instead, the House wants to “put a mechanism in place” to have autistic kids get coverage through ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1405398 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 01:41:13 +0100 1405398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1386868&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F274318838%2F Autism is often referred to as the “fastest growing developmental disability” in the US—-but is it (as today’s WINK news in Florida says) the “fastest-growing disability in the US? Tags: asd, asperger, autism, developmental disabiltiy, Diagnosis, disability, florida, Health, pdd-nos, StatisticsShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1386868 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:13:26 +0100 1386868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1369662&cid=t_103652_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fdid-politics-trump-mcat-in-admissions.html Several stories in the Gainesville (Florida) Sun and the Florida Alligator suggest issues with the leadership of the University of Florida College of Medicine. As first reported in the Sun,In a move that breaks with the norms established by medical school accreditors, the dean of the University of Florida's College of Medicine has opted to admit a student from a politically connected family, even though the student didn't have the backing of the Medical Selection Committee.Kone wouldn't name the student, but sources close to the situation identified him as Benjamin Mendelsohn, the son of Dr. Alan Mendelsohn, a Hollywood ophthalmologist and a Republican fundraiser who was a grassroots organizer for Gov. Charlie Crist during his 2006 campaign.Before Kone took over as dean in May 2007, Gov. C... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1369662 Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:46:00 +0100 1369662 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1292319&cid=t_103652_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fassisted-outpatient-treatment-is.html "There is no question . . . that outpatient commitment can be very helpful for some individuals." - John Petrila in Psychiatric Services The Treatment Advocacy Center (www.treatmentadvocacycenter.org) is a national nonprofit dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illnesses. TAC promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (Source: Treatment Advocacy Center) Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1292319 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 21:50:00 +0100 1292319 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1283545&cid=t_103652_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Faot-effective-but-underused.html As regular TAC Blog readers know, 42 states have Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT) laws that permit a court to order community based treatment for some people with severe mental illness who meet the state’s strict eligibility requirement. This legal mechanism has been proven to reduce consequences of nontreatment like hospitalizations, incarcerations, victimization, and violence.Florida passed its law - known in that state as “The Baker Act Reform” and “Involuntary Outpatient Placement” - in 2005. At the time the legislature was considering the measure, opponents asserted that the law would affect several thousand people resulting in a total hardship on the courts, public defenders, and the mental health system. As it turns out, the reality is that it is used for a very select ... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1283545 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:45:00 +0100 1283545 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1283633&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F246774074%2F The House Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support will hold a hearing on Wednesday in response to reports that the meds are disproportionately given to foster care children as a substitute for counseling. In announcing the hearing, Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington who chairs the subcommittee, also expressed concern that the drugs are increasingly prescribed for off-label treatments. Antipsychotics are approved for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but recent reports indicate the meds are often given to kids for ADHD. Moreover, until very recently, these weren’t approved for children at all and the issue has prompted anger from legislators in some states, such as New York and New Jersey, over the money paid by Medicaid for prescriptions. Similarly, nursing homes ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1283633 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:28:45 +0100 1283633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1246663&cid=t_103652_140_f&fid=35465&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychlaws.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fweek-of-tragic-consequences.html The tragic consequences of untreated severe mental illness were evident across the country this week. In Georgia, a 33-year-old man bludgeoned his girlfriend to death. Shannon Marrow has schizophrenia and had been in and out of treatment centers for years. He had recently stopped taking his medicationIn Maryland, Timothy Hayes Marsh was fatally shot in the head. His sister says Marsh struggled with bipolar disorder for years, and had substance abuse problems from self-medicating. She suspects Hayes was in the midst of a drug deal when he was killed.In New York, David Tarloff had been in and out of hospitals for years before he killed psychologist Kathryn Faughey. Tarloff has schizophrenia and relatives say he had recently stopped taking medication.In Florida a mother has been declared insa... Treatment Advocacy Center blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1246663 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 21:39:00 +0100 1246663 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1245061&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fpharmagossips-hottest-post-ever.html Say "Hi" to Cameron Haven - Sanofi drug rep and Playboy model way down in Florida. Warning! take care a workMuch, much more of Cameron doing her laundry can be seen here! Hat tip: Old School Repdigg story (Source: PharmaGossip) PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1245061 Wed, 20 Feb 2008 11:31:00 +0100 1245061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1217989&cid=t_103652_97_f&fid=35050&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmaGazette%2F%7E3%2F231796565%2Favailability_of_generic_levothyroxine_restored_in_florida.html Mylan Inc. (NYSE: MYL) announced that its pharmaceutical division has obtained an order from a judge in Florida finding that Levothyroxine Sodium should not be on the state's negative drug formulary.A drug that is included on Florida's negative formulary cannot be replaced by a generic version of the prescribed brand version by pharmacists. Therefore, Florida patients have been deprived of an affordable, effective, U. S. Food and Drug Administration approved generic version of levothyroxine sodium.Florida's Board of Medicine and Board of Pharmacy voted not to appeal the order however Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), manufacturer of the brand name levothyroxine sodium, Synthroid, has filed a formal appeal."This ruling is not just a victory for Mylan, it's ... PharmaGazette blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1217989 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 18:00:19 +0100 1217989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1194873&cid=t_103652_85_f&fid=36194&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftesstermulo.com%2F2008%2F02%2F02%2Famerican-idol-season-7-miami-auditions%2F Audition passers in Miami (in order of appearance in the video posted here): Robbie Carrico, Ghaleb Emachah, Corliss Smith, Brittany Wescott, Suzanne Toon, Ramielle Malubay, Syesha Mercado, Natashia Blach, Ilsy Lorena Pinot. Certainly, Miami auditions produced a lot of talents for the Hollywood part of the auditions. Robbie Carrico is another rock singer-type of contestant. A competitor for David of Omaha Auditions? Maybe so. But I still kind of like David. It’s quite a mystery how Ghaleb Emchah got in. Yes, he could sing, but Simon is right in saying that the thick Mexican accent is getting in the way. It was fun watching best friends Corliss Smith and Brittany Wescott audition together. But, of the two, I liked Brittany Wescott better. Her voice seemed suited for contemporary songs... Prudence and Madness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194873 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:19:35 +0100 1194873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1182988&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F224678157%2F The Republican senator from Arizona has repeatedly vowed to reduce Medicare Part D, which could lead to hundreds of thousands of Florida seniors losing their current prescription drug coverage. But his campaign isn’t worried that his views on the popular program will hurt him in the Sunshine State, The Hill reports. Why? During a debate last week in Boca Raton, which was partly underwritten by AARP – the candidates didn’t field a single question about Medicare, the paper writes. Yet, there are 3 million Floridians on Medicare and about roughly half of them are signed up for the program’s prescription-drug benefit, according to the most recent official federal tally. The Republican primary in Florida, by the way, will be held tomorrow. McCain has long argued that the bill ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1182988 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:10:09 +0100 1182988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1182990&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F224579731%2F The move comes amid growing scrutiny. The taxpayer bill for these meds jumped from $9 million seven years ago to nearly $30 million in 2006. Florida Medicaid records reportedly show the number of children - some just months old - who were prescribed the drugs went from 9,364 seven years ago to 18,137 in 2006. And even as drugmakers were being told to issue warnings about risks, a Florida Legislature-directed program partly funded by drugmakers was recommending the meds as treatment for ADHD, although FDA approval is lacking. As a result, the Florida attorney general is considering whether to file a lawsuit. Now, the state’s Agency for Health Care Administration is responding to concerns that the meds are being used inappropriately for treating ADHD, in particular, and will review cov... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1182990 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:56:34 +0100 1182990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455512&cid=t_103652_134_f&fid=36985&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Fsugarstats%2F%7E3%2F223618060%2F You know, I’ve always liked mice. Cute and furry little guys. Now it seems some new studies out of the University of Florida research labs (http://www.ufl.edu/) show that a certain Protein (Complex Amino Acid Chain) called Pdx1 is stimulating insulin production in mice. In this article titled: *“Researchers trigger insulin production in diabetic mice”* [...] (Source: SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management) SugarStats.com - Simple, Online Blood Sugar Tracking for Diabetes Management blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455512 Sat, 26 Jan 2008 18:37:19 +0100 1455512 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1170216&cid=t_103652_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F221090284%2F First, the US Senate Finance Committee and then the New Jersey Attorney General want to know about allegations made by former Amgen sales reps, who have filed complaints charging they suffered retaliation after resisting orders to promote Enbrel off-label and pull patient files from physician offices. Now, the Florida Attorney General, Bill McCollum, is also interested. One of the lawyers in his office is scheduled to speak this week with both former Amgen sales reps, according to Lydia Cotz, the attorney for the reps. At issue is the interplay between sales reps and docs, a hot topic as regulators, legislators and law enforcement officials increasingly scrutinize pharma’s marketing practices. In Amgen’s case, the former sales reps say they were instructed to use allegedly impr... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1170216 Tue, 22 Jan 2008 16:44:46 +0100 1170216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1142467&cid=t_103652_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F214686515%2F Shane Graham had Down’s syndrome, autism and sickle cell anemia and was one of 11 disabled children from New York who had been adopted by 62-year-old Judith Leekin. Today’s Associated Press reports that Leekin used four aliases to make money on the subsidies totally over $1.2 million for the children’s care. She adopted them between 1988 and 1996 and moved them to Florida in 1998 Nine of the children (aged 15 to 27; many have “mental and physical handicaps”) are in Florida state custody; one 19-year-old is on his own—-and Shane Graham is missing. authorities are considering a murder charge against Leekin as they try to find the 11th child, a boy named Shane Graham who would now be 19. He was last seen with Leekin in 1999 or 2000. The other adopted chil... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1142467 Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:17:43 +0100 1142467