Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Ukrainians Need Mental Health Support; What Is The Future Of Roe?
Scientific American: Ukrainians Face Lasting Psychological Wounds From Russian Invasion
The unprovoked assault by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army on the sovereign nation of Ukraine has left the world in disbelief. While it is painful to see the direct impact of this war on human lives and livelihoods, this invasion will also produce less visible psychological wounds that could linger for generations. I am a psychiatrist with expertise in post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, and stress. I research trauma and treat trauma-exposed civilians, refugees, survivors of torture and first responders and veterans. (Arash Javanbakht, 3/11)
The New York Times: Pro-Choice States Must Prepare For The Fall Of Roe V. Wade
A recently introduced Missouri provision would allow private citizens to sue anyone who helps a Missouri resident get an abortion in another state. The provision is part of a wave of state anti-abortion legislation, some of it quite radical, that’s being considered in the months ahead of the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization — the case that’s expected to severely compromise, if not entirely jettison, the nationwide right to abortion under Roe v. Wade. The result of such an outcome would be that about half the states in the country would ban nearly all abortions. (David S. Cohen, Greer Donley and Rachel Rebouche, 3/13)
The New York Times: Latin America’s ‘Green Wave’ Offers Lessons For U.S. Abortion Advocates
For decades abortion rights activists in Latin America looked to our counterparts in the global north to learn the best litigation and advocacy tools. We considered the incremental gains made in the years leading up to Roe v. Wade in the United States a blueprint for victory in our fight. (Catalina Martinez Coral, 3/14)
The Star Tribune: Helping U.S. Vets Exposed To Burn Pits
Amie Muller courageously shouldered a new mission in the fleeting months before her 2017 death from pancreatic cancer. Somehow, the Minnesota Air National Guard veteran summoned the energy to warn of "burn pit" hazards. During two deployments to Iraq, Muller lived and worked near a 10-acre, open-air incineration site disposing of up to 200 tons of waste daily. (3/13)
The Washington Post: Disease Took My Brother. Our Health-Care System Added To His Ordeal.
My brother Patrick died at the age of 67, after having beat the medical odds again and again, until he could beat them no longer. He lived 4½ years with Stage 4 glioblastoma, the deadliest of brain cancers, for which the survival is normally 12 to 16 months; his oncologist called him “Miracle Man.” This was on top of kidney failure, which required three-times-a-week dialysis, and a lifetime of struggle with Asperger’s syndrome, a disorder sometimes referred to as high-functioning autism. (Karen Tumulty, 3/11)
Newsweek: Despite The Harms, Social Media Is Still Critical To Gen Z's Mental Health
A coalition of state attorneys general recently announced a probe into TikTok to investigate how the platform harms young people's physical and mental health. President Joe Biden highlighted social media during his State of the Union address, calling for a ban of youth-targeted advertising, as well as enhanced data privacy protections. This issue has racked up bipartisan support, and for good reason. Recent security breaches have raised red flags about the potential for tech companies to exploit young people. (Katie Bannon, 3/11)
Modern Healthcare: President's Plans For Nursing Homes Don't Meet The Moment
America's nursing homes are at a tipping point. The short-sighted policy proposals that President Joe Biden announced for these critical facilities in his recent State of the Union address may be what pushes them over the edge. (Seema Verma, 3/11)
Miami Herald: US Needs Long-Term Health Care For Older Americans
We are getting older, we are getting sicker and we need more help. Our older population has been steadily increasing. Did you know that people over 65 are predicted to overtake children under 18 in population size by 2034? But we have health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition and 60% have at least two chronic conditions. These conditions range from arthritis to cancer, diabetes to asthma. (Josefina Carbonell, 3/12)
