Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Psychology Association Approves First Guidelines For Working With Men And Boys, Which Focus On Traditional Masculinity
The New York Times: Traditional Masculinity Can Hurt Boys, Say New A.P.A. Guidelines
The American Psychological Association has released several guides for psychologists who work with people belonging to certain groups — members of ethnic and linguistic minorities, for example, or women and girls. It did not have a guide for working with males, in part because they were historically considered the norm. But in August, the A.P.A. approved its first set of official guidelines for working with boys and men. (Fortin, 1/10)
Stat: 'CRISPR Babies' Scientist: 'I'm Actually Doing Quite Well'
The Chinese scientist who shocked the world in November by announcing that twin girls had been born from embryos that he had created using genome editing has told two Western colleagues that, contrary to a flurry of reports that he is under house arrest and possibly even facing the death penalty, he is “actually doing quite well here.” (Begley, 1/9)
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: FDA Warns Chocolates Could Be Contaminated With Hepatitis A
Consumers should not eat Bauer’s Candies Modjeskas, an individually wrapped marshmallow candy dipped in chocolate or caramel, purchased after Nov. 14, 2018, because a worker in the facility tested positive for hepatitis A, the FDA said in a statement. The candy can be bought at retail stores, through the QVC shopping network and at BauersCandy.com. (Smajstrla, 1/10)
PBS NewsHour: A Mother’s Story Of Why Mental Illness ‘Should Never Be A Crime’
Jerri Clark’s son Calvin was in college when his erratic behavior began, eventually leading to a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. His run-ins with law enforcement convinced Clark that medical and legal systems have very little tolerance for individuals with serious psychiatric issues. She shares her brief but spectacular take on why mental illness 'should never be a crime.' (Goldbloom, 1/10)
The Washington Post: How Your At-Home DNA Test Results Could Solve Cold Cases
The results seem almost miraculous: an arrest in the killing of a young girl in 1988 after 30 years of searching. The murder of a young couple in 1987, solved in a matter of days. These breakthroughs came as a result of an investigative technique called “genetic genealogy,” a blend of DNA analysis and old-fashioned archival research used to point investigators in the direction of a person of interest in a criminal case. (Taylor and Turner, 1/10)
CNN: US Fertility Rate Is Below Level Needed To Replace Population, Study Says
The total fertility rate for the United States in 2017 continued to dip below what's needed for the population to replace itself, according to a new report from the National Center for Health Statistics. The new report also reveals some major state-by-state differences in fertility rates. (Howard, 1/10)
Reuters: China Could Lift Life Expectancy By Nearly Three Years If It Meets WHO Smog Standards: Study
China could raise average life expectancy by 2.9 years if it improves air quality to levels recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), according a new study from a U.S. research group. China has vowed to determine the precise impact of air and water pollution on health as part of its efforts to raise average life expectancy to 79 years by 2030 from 76.3 years in 2015. (1/11)
Boston Globe: Landing Jobs, Finding Care: New Site Hopes To Help Boomers Navigate Post-Retirement Life
With consumers raving and grumbling online about nearly everything these days, Driver believes navigating the later years — landing jobs, deciding where to retire, finding elder care — remains a largely untapped market for ratings and recommendations. This week, he’s launching Age Friendly Advisor, an Internet platform for user reviews, research, and a raft of other information for folks grappling with how and where to spend their post-retirement years. (Weisman, 1/10)
NPR: Time In The ICU Means Worse Outcomes For Pregnant Moms With Severe Flu
Need another reason to get the flu shot if you're pregnant? A study out this week shows that pregnant women with the flu who are hospitalized in an intensive care unit are four times more likely to deliver babies prematurely and four and a half times more likely to have a baby of low birth weight. (Neighmond, 1/10)
