Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Hypnosis Discredited, No Longer A Crime-Solving Tool For Texas Rangers
Dallas Morning News: Texas Rangers Stop Using Hypnosis After Dallas Morning News Investigation Reveals Dubious Science
The Texas Department of Public Safety has ended the controversial practice of using hypnosis to investigate crimes. A department spokesman said the hypnosis program ended in January 2021, more than forty years after its inception, because its officers are now relying on better investigative practices. The decision comes less than a year after The Dallas Morning News published a two-part series, “The Memory Room,” which raised serious questions about the efficacy of using hypnosis on criminal cases. The News investigation found Texas built one of the most prolific programs for police hypnosis in the country, repeatedly doubling down on the practice despite scientific evidence that hypnosis can distort witness memories and lead to false convictions. (McGaughy, 3/11)
Health News Florida: Those Opposing THC Cap Say It Will Force Patients To Buy More
As the number of medical marijuana patients in Florida grows, Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee are once again exploring a possible cap on the level of THC in medical marijuana. Sally Peebles, a partner with the cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg and chair of the state’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee, said Wednesday two issues are of concern now: the high price of medical marijuana and dispensaries running out of the high-demand product. (Corum, 3/11)
Billings Gazette: Tribes Line Up To Oppose Cuts Of Tribal Health Positions In State Health Department
Leaders of Montana's tribes lined up with others Thursday to oppose a decision to cut two tribal health positions from the state Department of Public Health and Human Services. A budget subcommittee in February approved removing the positions of the tribal liaison and director of American Indian health within the department. On Thursday the House Appropriations Committee heard debate on the issue as part of a hearing on the health department's budget. (Michels, 3/11)
KHN: University Of Missouri Settles Lawsuits Over Knee Surgeries Involving Veterinarian
The University of Missouri has settled a collection of personal injury and false advertising claims over knee surgeries for $16.2 million, in what appears to be one of its largest public payouts in recent years. The 22 plaintiffs, a handful of whom were minors, filed suits from 2018 through 2020 over “BioJoint” surgeries pioneered by two university employees, orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Stannard and veterinarian Dr. James Cook. The procedure involves a complex operation that the Mizzou BioJoint Center’s website calls a “biological joint restoration,” replacing parts of the knee with cadaver bones or cartilage to treat arthritis or joint damage. Some plaintiffs alleged in court documents that the procedure was sold to them as a way to avoid a traditional artificial knee replacement. (Weber, 3/12)
