Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Longer Looks: Interesting Reads You Might Have Missed
The New York Times: 25 Years After The Anthrax Attacks, America Remains Vulnerable
Letters filled with anthrax spores exposed flaws in the United States’ biosecurity systems. Experts say many of those issues still exist. (Callaway, 11/11)
Cardinal News: New Documentary Keeps The Spotlight On Regulatory Failures And Human Toll Of Black Lung Disease In Central Appalachia
Frontline’s new documentary, “Coal’s Human Cost,” documents how we got here, from the first landmark regulation in the late 1960s to limitations on silica dust by the Biden administration that have not been enforced by the Trump administration, which also announced close to $700 million in June to sustain the industry. There were 2,000 new cases of black lung reported last year, according to the film. (Rubenstein, 11/10)
ProPublica: A Newborn Died In A Faith-Healing Sect. The State Of Oregon — And One Ex-Believer — Stepped In To Save Her Twin.
The stories of Evelyn and Marshall Phillips offer a rare view into the Followers of Christ — and reveal both the power and limits of Oregon’s efforts to compel parents to seek medical care for their children. (Crombie, 11/11)
The Washington Post: Why ‘Brainier’ Sports May Be Better For People With ADHD
There’s a bit of folk wisdom among mothers of kids with ADHD: Want your kid to sit still and focus at school? Get them to run around outside first. The assumption has long been that kids simply need to burn off excess energy. But research points to something more surprising: While exercise is good for nearly everyone’s brain, some studies suggest the cognitive boost may be especially pronounced in people with ADHD by aiding executive function. (Eunjung Cha, 11/12)
The New York Times: For Years, She Felt Awful. Her Flexible Joints Held A Clue.
Many people with hypermobility disorders spend years trying to figure out what’s wrong. Online communities are helping them connect the dots. (Brown, 11/9)
The Washington Post: Her Dog Sensed Something Was Wrong With Her Baby. It May Have Saved His Life.
Kim Reynolds noticed that her dog was acting strangely around her son Alexander. The dog, a Doberman named Saraya, was whining and pacing near the 5-month-old, licking the baby’s face and becoming increasingly distressed. Reynolds’ mother was visiting at the time. “My mum was like, ‘What is wrong with Saraya today?’” recalled Reynolds, who lives in Somerset County in the U.K. (Penman, 11/10)
