"Health & Medical News"

The Vermont Senate Judiciary Committee rejected calls for marijuana decriminalization but approved legislation that would lower the penalties for possession of the drug, the? Burlington Free Press reported Feb. 8.

On a 4-1 vote, the committee agreed to eliminate the possibility of jail time for individuals caught with an ounce or less of marijuana, instead making them eligible for a court-ordered diversion program.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Since their rise more than three decades ago, hospital ethics committees have sought to help physicians, patients and their families resolve ethical disagreements and navigate the treacherous terrain that so often accompanies medical care at the end of life.

The role of these committees was cemented in 1992 when the Joint Commission mandated that health care organizations come up with some way of addressing ethical concerns. Ninety-five percent of general hospitals surveyed in 1999 and 2000 offered ethics consultation or were starting up a consult service.

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Popularity: unranked [?]

The Bush administration’s proposed billion-dollar antidrug partnership with Mexico was met with harsh criticism in the House Foreign Relations Committee this week, the Los Angeles Times reported Nov. 15.

Panel member examining the $1.4-billion plan for the first time — U.S. and Mexican officials had largely hashed out the details of the so-called Merida Initiative behind closed doors — said that more money should be spend to “curb the appetite” for drugs and worried that Mexican corruption would bleed money away from the program.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Statement by Mike Russo, Health Care Advocate and Staff Attorney for CALPIRG: 

“The current health care system doesn’t give Californians access to quality health insurance at a fair price.  Californians need comprehensive reform, and that’s why CALPIRG is committed to achieving it this year.”

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Popularity: unranked [?]

The addiction and mental-health parity bill has been approved by the third and final committee needed to get it to a vote on the House floor, CADCA Coalitions Online reported Oct. 18.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007 this week. The vote means that the bill, H.R. 1424, is cleared for a vote by the full House. The measure currently has 273 cosponsors, more than enough for passage.

Popularity: unranked [?]

California bill will prod national decision makers, serve in lieu of federal policy if Congress fails to act

SACRAMENTO—The California Assembly Health Committee passed the Pharmaceutical Drug Information and Safety Act, SB 606 (Scott), today with all members present voting in favor of the bill. The measure will require pharmaceutical companies to disclose the results of clinical studies, meaning that doctors, patients, researchers and even industry competitors will gain access to information on the side effects and effectiveness of medicine currently on the market.

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Popularity: 14% [?]

Doctors and patients will still not have important information on side effects of medicine

Statement of Emily Clayton, CALPIRG Health Care Advocate, on today’s Assembly Business and Professions Committee vote on SB 163 (Scott), the Pharmaceutical Drug Safety and Information Act:

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Popularity: 4% [?]

SACRAMENTO—The Senate Health Committee today passed SB 1683, the Pharmaceutical Drug Right-to-Know Act. The bill, authored by Senator Jack Scott (Alta Dena) and sponsored by CALPIRG, would require drug companies to release the results of all their health studies for every drug sold in California.

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Popularity: 10% [?]

By Bob Curley

In a major step forward for equal medical treatment and insurance coverage for addictive and mental-health disorders, the U.S. Senate voted this week to approve the Mental Health Parity Act, while the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee voted 10-3 to approve the more comprehensive Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.

Popularity: 4% [?]