The hottest Health Politics Substack posts right now

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How To Treat Gender Dysphoria In Kids Without Sex Changes

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 1822 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Pediatrics Mental health Medical Ethics Health Policy Clinical Practice
  1. The debate over kids with gender dysphoria is highly polarized, with activists framing it as purely biological and critics focusing on opposing gender ideology instead of practical solutions.
  2. Major medical groups are shifting away from childhood sex-change surgeries and now recommend against procedures like breast removal, genital, and facial surgeries for minors.
  3. There’s a clear need to explore mental-health links and non-surgical treatments for gender dysphoria in children so that care focuses on safe, evidence-based alternatives rather than ideology.

Vaccination is legalized, decriminalized, government-sponsored, government-run torture, mutilation and homicide.

Bailiwick News • 6598 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Government Regulation Legal issues Medical Ethics
  1. Vaccination programs have been criticized as harmful and misleading, with claims that they cause suffering and even death.
  2. The argument is made that individuals can resist these programs by not participating and by advocating for changes in laws that enable them.
  3. There is a belief that the government has misled the public about the safety and regulation of vaccines, making individuals skeptical about their trust in these medical interventions.

WPATH, part I: "The dignity of risk and the right to regret"

gender:hacked by Eliza Mondegreen • 1884 implied HN points • 28 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Medical Ethics Patient rights Gender Issues Public Health Policy Debate
  1. Teenagers have the right to make decisions, even if they might regret them later. This is part of growing up and learning about themselves.
  2. Medical decisions, especially about serious treatments like hormone therapy, require careful consideration. They aren't just like normal teenage risks of dating or making silly choices.
  3. Clinicians must take responsibility for their actions and the potential harm they can cause. It's important to really think about the safety and effectiveness of medical interventions for young people.

Medical Roundup #7

Don't Worry About the Vase • 2374 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Regulatory Policy Drug Approval Clinical Trials Public Health Pharma Industry Bioethics Mental health
  1. The FDA is acting inconsistently and retroactively on approvals, and that behavior is chilling investment and innovation in vaccines and other drug development.
  2. Clinical trials and oversight are inefficient and expensive—practices like 100% source data verification and rigid IRB processes waste resources and slow progress, so risk-based monitoring, standardized trial infrastructure, and more flexible accredited reviews could help.
  3. Medical and market developments are moving care forward—AI can improve cancer screening, GLP-1 competition is driving down prices, and simple habits like daily walking give big health benefits—but regulatory and cultural barriers risk limiting their impact.

Covid-19 six years later

Your Local Epidemiologist • 2896 implied HN points • 19 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Epidemiology Vaccination Long Covid Health Policy Government Trust
  1. Covid-19 is much less deadly than early in the pandemic and now behaves more like seasonal respiratory viruses, with smaller waves and two annual peaks, but it still causes hospitalizations especially in older adults and infants.
  2. Vaccines and treatments still cut the risk of severe illness, but protection wanes, vaccine uptake is falling, and guidance (especially about extra doses for older adults) is unclear, while cost and access barriers limit effective care.
  3. The biggest ongoing problem is eroding trust and a weakened public health system: many key questions remain unanswered (like long Covid and which interventions truly worked), so transparency, better data, and system reforms are urgently needed.
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The Beginning of the End for Big Corporate Medicine

BIG by Matt Stoller • 42285 implied HN points • 10 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Health Policy Antitrust Drug Pricing Vertical Integration Regulation
  1. Huge vertically integrated health firms—wholesalers, insurers, PBMs, and provider chains—create conflicts of interest that drive up costs, steer care toward profit, and undermine clinicians' independence.
  2. A new bipartisan bill would force structural separation so companies must choose between being insurers/PBMs/wholesalers or owning providers, and it would empower enforcement to block future rollups.
  3. Momentum is building at both state and federal levels—through laws, FTC actions, and public support—to break up or tightly regulate Big Medicine and return power to patients and clinicians.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT AUTISM? ABLE TO BE IN ORLANDO NOV 15-17, 2024?

Popular Rationalism • 138 implied HN points • 31 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Health Research Community support Pediatrics
  1. The Documenting Hope Conference is happening in Orlando from November 15-17, 2024, and it's a great opportunity for parents and professionals concerned about autism. It's important to register soon to secure your spot and take advantage of early bird pricing.
  2. The conference will feature top experts in pediatrics and integrative medicine, sharing helpful insights and innovative solutions related to autism. Attendees can expect valuable knowledge and resources for better advocacy and support.
  3. Aside from learning, the event promises a fun experience at a resort in sunny Orlando, with family-friendly activities and special deals at nearby attractions like Disney World. It's a nice mix of education and leisure for everyone.

Ensitrelvir (Xocova®): Japanese Company Shionogi & Co., Ltd. Sets a Model for Success in Translational Research for the Coming Future of Ethical Science

Popular Rationalism • 455 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pharmaceuticals Drug Development Clinical Trials Public Health
  1. Ensitrelvir, also known as Xocova, is a new antiviral pill that is 30 times more effective than a placebo. It was developed by a Japanese company called Shionogi & Co., which worked closely with researchers.
  2. This medication targets a key enzyme the virus needs to replicate, making it effective against COVID-19 symptoms, especially those caused by Omicron variants. It has shown a strong safety profile and fewer side effects compared to some other treatments.
  3. Xocova is easier to take than some alternatives because it requires only a once-daily dose and has fewer interactions with other medications. This makes it a more convenient option for many patients.

A win for your access to vaccines, federal accountability, and health

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1906 implied HN points • 17 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Government Policy
  1. A federal judge blocked and reversed the recent vaccine-policy changes, temporarily restoring vaccine access to how it was before June 2025.
  2. The court found the process unlawful because it bypassed the statutorily required ACIP, appointed a committee that wasn’t fairly balanced or expert enough, and made arbitrary administrative changes.
  3. ACIP meetings with the current members are paused and planned votes were cancelled, so rely on established medical society schedules for now while the legal case and future vaccine decisions play out.

⚡️ Top 10 news of the week

digitalhealthinsider • 19 implied HN points • 01 Nov 24
🏥 Health Politics Digital Health Healthcare Trends Women's Health Health Technology
  1. Health tech investments are on the rise, driven by several key venture capitalists leading major deals.
  2. There is growing interest in AI platforms for healthcare, with tech companies promoting responsible implementation.
  3. Many older Americans are skeptical about trusting health information that comes from AI sources.

Learning curve.

Bailiwick News • 5983 implied HN points • 11 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Government Policy Medical Ethics
  1. Vaccines have historically been linked to harm for multiple generations, raising concerns about their safety and effectiveness.
  2. There is a belief that government and health officials have manipulated regulations to make vaccine approvals easier without proper safety standards.
  3. Many urge individuals to stop vaccinating, especially children, citing a lack of trust in the health system and its practices.

Anaphylaxis, allergens, immunogenicity, vaccines.

Bailiwick News • 3269 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Pharmaceuticals Regulations Allergies
  1. Vaccines and many biological products can cause allergic reactions like anaphylaxis. This means they can intentionally harm people while claiming to protect them.
  2. There are laws that make it hard to hold companies accountable for the negative effects of vaccines. These laws allow harmful practices to continue under the guise of vaccination programs.
  3. Congress is more focused on how effective these vaccines are at causing harm, rather than their safety. This reflects a deeper concern about managing public health costs rather than protecting individuals.

Why do public health bureaucrats keep pushing flu shots on kids?

Unreported Truths • 34 implied HN points • 26 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Pediatrics Vaccine Safety Clinical Trials Pharma Industry
  1. Flu shots for young children give only partial, short-lived protection against lab-confirmed influenza and usually don't reduce overall respiratory illness, so benefits are limited and require yearly repeats.
  2. Trials have reported rare but serious adverse events and many studies lack true placebo controls, leaving the true short- and long-term risks of repeated annual vaccination starting in infancy unclear.
  3. Given the modest benefits and uncertain risks, strong public-health pressure to vaccinate all healthy kids against flu is questionable and should be re-evaluated to rebuild parental trust.

Excess deaths in Australia cannot be explained by any other mechanism other than the COVID shots

Steve Kirsch's newsletter • 4 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Safety Public Health Health Policy Epidemiology Data Analysis Pandemic response
  1. A statistical analysis of several Australian regions found excess deaths began right after COVID vaccine rollouts, and the timing and age patterns are said to not match the official explanations.
  2. Analyses of other national records claim there was no clear mortality or hospitalization benefit from the vaccines, and frailty-matched comparisons reportedly show similar death rates for vaccinated and unvaccinated groups.
  3. Public health authorities and official reports largely avoided treating vaccines as a possible cause or quantifying lives saved or lost, while only a few officials publicly raised these concerns.

What are the Influenza Vaccine Risks?

Who is Robert Malone • 10 implied HN points • 23 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Epidemiology Regulatory Policy Risk Assessment Public Health Surveillance Pediatrics
  1. Vaccine risks and benefits are not the same for everyone — they vary a lot by age, vaccine formulation, whether other shots are given at the same visit, and the type of flu season; older and high‑risk people get clear net benefit while healthy younger adults and some children often see much smaller gains.
  2. Serious adverse events are rare but real: anaphylaxis occurs on the order of 1.35–1.6 cases per million doses, Guillain‑Barré syndrome about 1–2 per million, and febrile seizures are measurably increased in young children, especially when the flu shot is co‑administered with PCV13 and DTaP (these seizures are usually brief and benign).
  3. Policy and communication should reflect the nuance and data limits — NNV versus NNH calculations strongly favor vaccination for older adults but are less decisive for low‑risk groups, surveillance systems have known biases, and one‑size‑fits‑all mandates or generic counseling miss important individual considerations.

Number of people living in county could be as much as 50,000 higher than thought, health watchdog learns

NN Journal • 218 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Health Statistics Community health
  1. The population in Northamptonshire might actually be about 50,000 people higher than previously thought.
  2. According to a health official, nearly 844,000 people are registered with health services in the county.
  3. This number is significantly more than what the last census recorded, which raises questions about population tracking.

FDA's Straight Shooter: Don't Bring Crappy Data To A Gunfight

TK News by Matt Taibbi • 7619 implied HN points • 19 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Regulation Vaccines Pharmaceuticals Clinical Trials Public Health Policy
  1. The FDA, led by Vinay Prasad, refused to file Moderna’s mRNA flu vaccine study because the trial didn’t meet the agency’s standards for being “adequate and well‑controlled.”
  2. Moderna’s study compared its shot to Fluarix, a vaccine that performs poorly in people 65+, which could falsely inflate the new vaccine’s benefit and raises ethical questions about informed consent for participants.
  3. Prasad’s move signals a tougher, less pharma‑friendly FDA stance that is drawing industry and media backlash but emphasizes stricter enforcement of trial and safety standards.

Deliberate induction of anaphylaxis by vaccination

Bailiwick News • 2773 implied HN points • 12 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Medical Ethics Health Policy Bioethics
  1. Vaccines can potentially cause serious allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, which may not be easily predictable. This can happen even with substances that are usually safe when eaten.
  2. Some historical research on anaphylaxis reveals a connection between vaccinations and the increase in allergies and autoimmune conditions today, suggesting that vaccines might sensitize people to allergens.
  3. Many vaccines contain proteins or substances that could trigger allergies, and the lack of stringent regulation in vaccine development means that people might not be fully aware of the risks involved.

Privacy Paranoia and the NHS app

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 1150 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Data Privacy Patient rights Digital Health Government Policy
  1. Data protection concerns are slowing down important updates in the NHS. It's essential to modernize the system to serve patients better.
  2. Public fear over data sharing often outweighs the potential benefits for healthcare, like early cancer detection.
  3. Other countries, like Sweden, show that we can provide better digital health tools without excessive fear of data issues. It's time to move forward and improve our health services.

BMC Women's Health Publishes a Deeply Flawed Study on Parental Acceptance of HPV Vaccinations. Plus: Three Key Questions Required of Any HPV Vaccine Efficacy Trial

Popular Rationalism • 733 implied HN points • 23 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Public Health Research Methodology Epidemiology Cancer prevention
  1. The recent study on parental acceptance of HPV vaccinations has major flaws that make its results questionable. Problems include small sample sizes and not enough diversity in participants.
  2. There is growing concern about HPV type replacement, where non-vaccine types may become more common after vaccination. This could lead to an increase in HPV-related cancers despite vaccination efforts.
  3. Future studies on HPV vaccine efficacy need to focus more on long-term effects and should clearly address issues like type replacement and the percentage of cancers caused by non-vaccine-targeted HPV types.

The Covid Screwtape Letters - Part 4 - The "New Normal"

COVID Reason • 475 implied HN points • 25 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response Public Health Social Behavior Remote work Mental health
  1. Social distancing has made people feel more isolated and suspicious of each other. It's now hard for them to feel comfortable with close contact, like handshakes or hugs.
  2. Working from home sounds good, but it has turned into a way to control people's lives. They end up working more and feel stuck, as their home becomes like an office.
  3. People might miss in-person interactions, but they are being trained to prefer the convenience and safety of digital communication. This can make real connections feel uncomfortable.

NHS Reform - big gains from small moves

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 575 implied HN points • 24 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Healthcare Reform Patient Care Healthcare system Public Health Policy Solutions
  1. Small changes can lead to big improvements in the NHS, like having administrators handle tasks normally done by doctors, which can cut waiting times significantly.
  2. Many missed hospital appointments could be avoided by improving text reminders and allowing patients to choose their own appointment times, which leads to better attendance rates.
  3. Using simple tech solutions or AI to remind patients about appointments can really help reduce the number of people who don't show up, making the system work better for everyone.

5 Logical fallacies in the era of RFK Jr.

Your Local Epidemiologist • 2161 implied HN points • 04 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Misinformation Vaccination Public Health Health Communication Epidemiology Media Literacy
  1. Prebunking—teaching people to recognize common rhetorical tricks—is more effective than trying to debunk every false claim one-by-one. If people learn the patterns, they can spot misinformation themselves.
  2. Many health falsehoods rely on a few common logical fallacies like appeal to nature, false dichotomy, ad hominem, common-sense, and post hoc, which make claims seem plausible but are logically weak. Recognizing these specific errors helps you judge a claim's strength.
  3. Instead of playing whack-a-mole with rumors, empower people to do their own critical thinking by learning these fallacies and how to evaluate evidence. Teaching these skills reduces dependence on experts to debunk every meme and builds resilience to misinformation.

CBS News Misinforms the Public on Pertussis Vaccination Policy: Dr. Lyons-Weiler Issues a Call for Retraction

Popular Rationalism • 970 implied HN points • 17 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Vaccination Healthcare policy Disease Control Misinformation
  1. The CBS News report about whooping cough vaccines contained misinformation, suggesting adults need a booster every ten years for pertussis. This is misleading because the CDC does not recommend regular boosters for pertussis.
  2. The effectiveness of the pertussis vaccine decreases significantly within a few years, meaning people can still get infected and spread the disease even after vaccination. This poses risks, especially to infants who are not fully vaccinated.
  3. The vaccine does not provide herd immunity, making it difficult to rely on vaccinated adults to protect vulnerable groups. The public should be educated about the limitations of the vaccine and the risks of asymptomatic carriers.

Cue the allergies and time change, the flu vaccine process is starting, WH's impact on Tylenol, and good news

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1056 implied HN points • 10 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Infectious Disease Health Policy Maternal health Health Communication
  1. Winter respiratory season is finally easing, but spring viruses like HMPV and RSV are on the rise and allergy season is starting earlier and lasting longer, so expect more colds and cranky kids this spring.
  2. The flu vaccine planning for next season is underway, but political interference and leadership turnover could block or delay an updated formula, meaning Americans might receive last year’s vaccine instead of one matched to current strains.
  3. A White House briefing that falsely linked acetaminophen to autism caused a measurable drop in acetaminophen orders for pregnant patients and a big rise in leucovorin prescriptions, showing how misinformation changes clinical care; acetaminophen remains the safest choice for fever and pain in pregnancy, so talk to your clinician if you’re pregnant and sick.

The Covid Screwtape Letters - Part 2

COVID Reason • 793 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Policy Debate Societal Impact Public Perception
  1. Masks became a way for people to show off their moral values, as if wearing one makes them better than others. It's interesting how people judge each other based on this simple piece of fabric.
  2. There’s a lot of confusion about how effective masks really are, with people switching their opinions constantly. This confusion helps keep people divided and distracted.
  3. Wearing masks has turned into a sign of tribal loyalty, where people identify if someone is 'with them' or 'against them.' This shows how easily they fall back on basic group instincts.

Top 5 questions about school vaccination requirements

Your Local Epidemiologist • 877 implied HN points • 11 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine Policy School Policy Public Health Child Health Health Communication Legal Challenges
  1. State school vaccination rules are shifting: some states are moving toward stricter medical-only exemptions while others are passing laws to weaken or block requirements, so this will remain a live policy battle, not a settled issue.
  2. School immunization requirements do more than boost vaccine rates — they create routine healthcare visits that catch other health problems and keep kids in school, so weakening them can reduce both vaccination coverage and important points of health access.
  3. When discussing policy, focus on shared values and practical arguments: emphasize keeping schools open, the high cost of outbreaks, and middle-ground fixes like making exemptions harder to obtain or tying them to education rather than eliminating requirements entirely.

Investopedia: Novavax Stock Plunges as FDA Puts Hold on Vaccines Because of Safety Concerns

Popular Rationalism • 653 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines FDA Clinical Trials Public Health Biotech
  1. The FDA has paused Novavax's COVID-19 and flu vaccine testing due to safety issues.
  2. One patient reported nerve damage after receiving the combination vaccine shot.
  3. Novavax is working with the FDA to resolve these concerns and hopes to continue with its trials soon.

How Can Doctors Like This Provide Competent Care To Their Patients?

Singal-Minded • 2897 implied HN points • 07 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Youth Medicine Research Integrity Medical Ethics
  1. Some prominent doctors publicly condemn critics of trans healthcare and present themselves as morally superior, sometimes making strong claims without clearly showing how those claims cause real harm.
  2. A widely-cited 2023 study often pointed to in favor of youth gender medicine has major methodological problems—missing data, outcome switching, and small or inconsistent effects—so it does not provide strong causal evidence, and broader reviews find the evidence base weak.
  3. When high-status clinicians endorse or rely on weak research, it raises legitimate concerns about their ability to appraise evidence and about patient care, because patients may get recommendations that aren’t well supported.

Exenatide - the drug that failed

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 595 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Clinical Trials Drug Development Patient Care Medical Research
  1. Exenatide, a drug initially hopeful for slowing Parkinson's, failed in its final trial. This has left many in the Parkinson's community feeling uncertain and disappointed.
  2. Researchers are still figuring out why the drug worked in earlier tests but failed later. They need more data to understand if it was because the drug didn't reach the brain or if it just wasn't effective.
  3. The failure of Exenatide could make it harder for other similar drugs to get funding for trials. Meanwhile, experts emphasize that exercise remains a reliable way to manage Parkinson's symptoms.

Universal Primary Care: The Antidote to Health Reform Paralysis?

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 559 implied HN points • 24 Sep 24
🏥 Health Politics Health care Public Policy Insurance Access Costs
  1. Universal primary care is important because everyone needs it, even healthy people. It helps with routine illnesses and preventive care.
  2. Primary care is cost-effective, making up a small part of total healthcare spending but providing great health benefits. Investing in primary care can save money in the long run.
  3. Starting with universal primary care could be a smart first step toward broader healthcare reform. It might gain more political support and lead to better health outcomes for everyone.

The Complex Adaptive Landscape Created by SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines Shows Us Why Evolution Will Not Allow Effective mRNA Vaccines Against mRNA Viruses, Part 1.

Popular Rationalism • 574 implied HN points • 16 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Vaccines Public Health Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Immunology
  1. mRNA vaccines face big challenges because of how fast RNA viruses can change. It's unlikely they'll be able to completely eliminate the virus over time.
  2. These vaccines can push viruses to evolve in ways that make them escape detection and survive better. This means the virus can keep changing and might even become more dangerous.
  3. Natural immunity, from getting the virus instead of a vaccine, can be broader and may help prevent newer variants. This shows how different immune responses can affect how the virus evolves.

The Covid Screwtape Letters - Part 1

COVID Reason • 1050 implied HN points • 08 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response Public Health Government Control Misinformation Crisis Management
  1. Chaos and confusion can be more powerful than a virus. When people are confused, they struggle to find the truth.
  2. Control is the real goal, not just dealing with the virus itself. Keeping people afraid and divided helps maintain that control.
  3. History shows us that fear can tear communities apart. Encouraging suspicion between neighbors can lead to a lot of conflict and chaos.

The Kids Are Alright About Vaping, So Let’s Fix the Grown-Ups

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 199 implied HN points • 13 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Regulation Youth health
  1. Youth vaping and smoking rates have dropped sharply in recent years, which is a major public health win.
  2. Obsession with banning flavored e-cigarettes seems misplaced because teen use is already low and illegal flavored vapes are widespread but not driving youth use.
  3. Flavored e-cigarettes can help adults quit smoking, so limiting access risks undermining a useful tool for reducing tobacco deaths.

Hep B vaccine rates declining, RSV is having a late surge, more disease=more economic cost, AI and triage, and the U.S. surgeon general

Your Local Epidemiologist • 956 implied HN points • 03 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Vaccination Infectious Disease Public Health Health Policy Health economics Epidemiology
  1. Newborn hepatitis B vaccination rates are falling substantially, and declining childhood immunization (like MMR) threatens more cases, hospitalizations, deaths, and large economic costs.
  2. The respiratory season is unusual: flu activity is plateauing while RSV infections and hospitalizations are surging very late, putting infants at higher risk; vaccines and long-acting monoclonal antibodies can still provide protection.
  3. Consumer AI health tools can help with simple questions but are not yet reliable for triage; they often over-refer low-risk people and can miss early signs of serious emergencies, so don’t rely on them in urgent situations.

The test of open dialogue

Your Local Epidemiologist • 1393 implied HN points • 25 Feb 26
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Pandemic response Scientific Integrity Government Agencies Vaccine Policy
  1. Jay Bhattacharya now leads both CDC and NIH, and his tenure will be judged on whether he protects the open scientific debate he once called for.
  2. Respectful, in-person conversations can humanize opponents and help reconcile hard public health trade-offs, even when people still disagree.
  3. Recent moves like limiting public comment, reshaping advisory boards, removing materials, and firings have raised worries about reduced transparency and politicization, and the agencies’ direction will be closely watched.

Movers and Shakers: Assisted Dying

Rory’s Always On Newsletter • 376 implied HN points • 19 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Assisted Dying Legal issues Ethics Patient rights
  1. There's a big debate about whether terminally ill people should get legal help to end their lives. Some believe the laws should change to support this decision, while others think it's best to keep the state out of it.
  2. Many people, especially in the Parkinson's community, might not qualify for assisted dying under current proposals. They may not get a 'terminal' diagnosis in time, even if their suffering is severe.
  3. Countries like Spain have different rules about assisted dying, allowing people with chronic conditions to seek help. This brings up questions about who decides what's considered unbearable suffering.

Dr. Atlas and the Crucible of Open Dialogue

COVID Reason • 495 implied HN points • 15 Oct 24
🏥 Health Politics Censorship Public Health Policy Analysis Academic Freedom Pandemic response
  1. Government lockdowns during the pandemic didn't work as intended and caused more harm than good, affecting people's mental health and education.
  2. Censorship stifled important discussions and alternative viewpoints, which are essential for scientific progress.
  3. Academic institutions didn't uphold free expression and debate, which is key for critical thinking and finding the truth.

Death in One Day: Inside Canada’s Assisted-Suicide Machine

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 505 implied HN points • 05 Mar 26
🏥 Health Politics Assisted Dying Medical Ethics Public Policy Healthcare system End-of-life Regulation
  1. Assisted suicide has become a routine part of healthcare, with well-established referral networks and forms to fill out.
  2. About one out of every 20 deaths in Canada is due to the government-run MAID program, which has resulted in nearly 110,000 deaths overall.
  3. The program can end lives very quickly — in Ontario in 2023 many people died the same day or the next day after requesting MAID — and that speed raises ethical worries that hastening death can become the path of least resistance.

Ten States Have Held Out on Medicaid Expansion. It's Left Millions of Americans Without Health Coverage.

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 439 implied HN points • 23 Sep 24
🏥 Health Politics Medicaid Legislation Public Health
  1. Ten states have not expanded Medicaid, leaving millions of people without health coverage. These states have some of the highest rates of uninsured residents.
  2. Many people in the coverage gap are working but still can't afford health insurance. Their incomes are too high for Medicaid but too low for ACA subsidies.
  3. The refusal to expand Medicaid often comes from political choices, not a lack of need. Many residents want the expansion, but their state governments are not listening.