Latest KFF Health News Stories
A Dying Man’s Wish To Save Others Hits Hospital Ethics Hurdle
One terminally ill man’s hope to be disconnected from his respirator and donate his organs was almost thwarted, despite his best laid plans.
Mumps Cases Spike, Raising Questions About Need For Vaccine Boosters
Mumps is back and is having its worst year in a decade, fueled in part by its spread on college campuses.
In Battle Against Ovarian Cancer, A New Focus on Fallopian Tubes
Removing them during already-planned hysterectomies poses little risk and can help prevent a deadly cancer, researchers find.
In Light Of Zika Findings, Stepped-Up Monitoring Of Children’s Symptoms Urged
Three different studies highlight the challenges ahead for the health system as it attempts to address the damage done to children who were exposed to it in utero.
Social Isolation May Worsen Breast Cancer Prospects
A new study shows women fare worse without a support network.
Environmentalists Offer To Help Protect Health Care Under Trump
After the recent election of Republicans who have vowed to repeal the Affordable Care Act, one of the nation’s oldest environmental groups says it’s on board to help save it.
Delivered ‘Like A Pizza’: Why Killer Drug Fentanyl Is So Hard To Stop
Just a few grains of pure fentanyl is enough to kill most users. But law enforcement sources say stopping the supply of the deadly synthetic opioid from China and Mexico is very difficult.
As Non-Medical Vaccine Exemptions Grow, Texas Parents Seek Transparency In Schools
Although the state has an overall high level of vaccinations, some people are concerned about growing pockets with high numbers of children who are not immunized.
Abortion By Mail Delivers Promise For Better Access But Political Questions Remain
The experiment — involving 50 women in Hawaii, Oregon, New York and Washington — breaks ground by letting women get an abortion without visiting a clinic.
Did Gender Bias Derail A Potential Birth Control Option For Men?
A study that showed positive results in terms of contraceptive efficacy but may have been linked to depression has sparked debate about possible bias in contraceptive research. But the issues may not be so simple.
Deadly Superbug Linked To Four Deaths In The U.S.
A deadly superbug has been linked to at least four deaths and nine other cases in the U.S. and has spread across the globe in just six years.
Premature Births Rise Slightly, First Uptick In 8 Years, March Of Dimes Reports
In 2015, the number of babies born in the U.S. before the 37th week of pregnancy increased by about 2,000 over the previous year.
Study: ‘Ubiquitous’ Nature Of Painkillers Lands Kids — Even Toddlers — In The ER
New research tracks how the widespread availability of these high-powered medications is causing a high rate of hospitalizations for opioid poisoning among children.
Will A Study Save Victims Of Violence Or Gamble With Their Lives?
A major study in Philadelphia will look at whether it is better for people with gunshot or stab wounds to get basic care from paramedics or more advanced care before going to the hospital, as most do now.
Skeptics Question The Value Of Hydration Therapy For The Healthy
Some spa-like clinics will inject an expensive mix of water and vitamins into your bloodstream, ostensibly to ward off illness and boost energy. But can’t drinking fluids offer the same benefit?
Is 20-Something Too Late For A Guy To Get The HPV Vaccine?
A generation of young men missed out on the HPV vaccine. Now, 29-year-old journalist Jake Harper wonders if that’s putting him and other men at risk.
Researchers Unlock Mystery Of How Zika Spreads In Human Cells
Zika virus infection changes both viral and human RNA, affecting the body’s immune response, say researchers at the University of California, San Diego.
Kratom Gets Reprieve From Drug Enforcement Administration
The agency has decided to leave kratom off its list of highly restricted drugs for now. The DEA is asking for public comment and help from the Food and Drug Administration in evaluating kratom.
Many Localities Find Past Ambivalence On Mosquitoes Hinders Zika Response
Efforts to control and track the mosquitoes that carry the Zika virus have been hampered by lack of resources.
Got Zika? For Pregnant Women, Lab Constraints Mean It’s Often Hard To Know
Testing people — especially pregnant women — who may have been exposed to the virus is an integral part of the response strategy, but it’s putting a strain on this part of the nation’s public health infrastructure. New congressional funding could change that.
