Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Crisis Pregnancy Centers Use Deceptive Practices; Overturning Roe Could Lead To Birth Control Denial
The New York Times: Pregnant? Need Help? They Have An Agenda
With the Supreme Court likely to overturn Roe v. Wade this year, the American anti-abortion movement is preparing for a near future in which abortion is more restricted, in more parts of the country, than at any time in the past 50 years. Anti-abortion activists have spent decades fighting Roe while waiting for this moment, in part by establishing a national network of about 2,600 so-called crisis pregnancy centers, through which they try to deter women from getting abortions, often with deceptive practices — and, in some cases, using taxpayer dollars. (Carly Thomsen, Carrie N. Baker and Zach Levitt, 5/12)
The New York Times: If Roe Goes, Will The Right To Birth Control Be Next?
In the wake of last week’s leak of the Supreme Court’s draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, President Biden — never a strong champion of the ruling, and an outright opponent of it earlier in his career — has set about defending the constitutional right to abortion largely by talking around it. “Every other decision relating to the notion of privacy is thrown into question,” he said last week, suggesting that the logic of Justice Samuel Alito’s draft could threaten a broader range of rights, including the right to birth control. (Spencer Bokat-Lindell, 5/11)
The Boston Globe: What To Expect When You’re Expecting? A Host Of Disinformation
Making new humans is a dangerous and mysterious endeavor — not that you would know it from reading the Supreme Court’s recently leaked draft opinion that would allow US states to force women to carry unwanted pregnancies to term. For 40 weeks, a human body builds another human body inside itself. Doctors understand surprisingly little about this science-fiction-sounding process. What is a placenta, really? Can preeclampsia, a common cause of maternal death, be prevented? We do not know. (Emily Dreyfuss and Catesby Holmes, 5/12)
Also —
Stat: Covid-19 Deaths In The U.S.: Reinforcing The 'Two Americas' Notion
The notion of Covid-19 causing two Americas was on many minds in the summer of 2021. The Washington Post and LA Times both wrote about it; Dr. Anthony Fauci mentioned it in an interview. One America had high demand for Covid-19 vaccines, the other had widespread vaccine hesitancy and opposition to mask and vaccine mandates. This narrative helped shape the understanding of what happened as well as what the country should be doing now to control the pandemic. But Covid has been dividing the nation since the start of the pandemic. Our recent analysis of Covid-19 deaths by region, published in PLoS One, supports the two Americas idea. (Michael A. Stoto, Samantha Schlageter and John Kraemer, 5/12)
Columbus Dispatch: What Is House Bill 296? How Would It Present Overdose Deaths?
Every month, we resuscitate someone in our lobby who is literally dying from a drug overdose. Without interruption, this process can lead to death. Our team, like many first responders, has access to a drug called naloxone, which blocks the opiate’s effect on the brain and ultimately reverses the overdose. Every overdose averted using naloxone, also known as Narcan, is a life saved and a chance at recovery. (Adam Rowan, 5/11)
Kansas City Star: Missouri Needle Exchanges Will Fight Drugs, Hepatitis C, HIV
Envision the last time you visited your pharmacy. You went through the front door. You had a mild cold or some allergies. There were bright lights and plenty of options available to meet your needs. Maybe there was even a security guard inside to make sure you were safe. A positive, routine experience. Normal. (Galen Hoff, 5/12)
