Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: USAID Cuts Had Fatal Consequences; New Federal Lyme Disease Plan Is Faulty
The New York Times: U.S.A.I.D. Cuts Killed People. That’s The Truth.
Musk insists that his demolition of humanitarian aid didn’t cost lives. So I propose he take a trip with me. (Nicholas Kristof, 7/1)
CIDRAP: The Wrong Cure—How The New Federal Lyme Plan Validates A Diagnosis That Often Isn't There
The federal criteria require at least five of 10 IgG bands before the result counts as positive, because the proteins are not all unique to Lyme. Some closely resemble proteins on ordinary, harmless bacteria, including ones that live in the mouth and gut, so a person who never encountered Lyme can still light up a band or two. The most common of them, a flagellin protein, turns up in nearly half of healthy people in one study, many with little or no chance of exposure. A report that reads "two bands present" can look, to a frightened patient, like partial proof. It is closer to background noise, and standard testing calls it negative for exactly that reason. (Jake Scott, MD, 7/1)
The Atlantic: The Supreme Court’s Utterly Mainstream Ruling On Women’s Sports
By a 6–3 margin, the justices upheld state laws that define men’s and women’s sports by biological sex instead of gender identity. In other words, states cannot be forced to allow genetically male athletes who identify as women to compete in female sports; legislators have a legitimate interest in preserving fair opportunities for female athletes. (Helen Lewis, 7/1)
The Boston Globe: It Shouldn’t Take So Long To Fix A Wheelchair
Wheelchair users rely on the technology to live and work, and shouldn’t have to tolerate long waits for repairs. (7/1)
The Washington Post: Aging Doesn’t Have To Mean Cognitive Or Physical Decline
A new study found that physical and cognitive gains in later life are surprisingly common. (Leana S. Wen, 6/30)
