"Health & Medical News"

Physicians say a Missouri Supreme Court ruling, though narrow, recognizes the significance of medical staff bylaws and offers doctors some recourse in the face of unfair discipline.

Breaking with a 43-year-old precedent, a unanimous high court opened the door for medical staff members to sue hospitals over privileging disputes if the facilities fail to follow staff bylaws. Justices departed from a long-held principle that hospital privileging decisions were not subject to judicial review, noting that was the “nationwide majority rule” at the time of the high court’s 1965 decision.

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A $10-million grant to the Canadian Center on Substance Abuse will support a national campaign to discourage illicit-drug use among 10- to 24-year-olds, the Canwest News Service? reported Jan. 31.

Canada’s new Drug Prevention Strategy for Youth (PDF) aims to reduce youth drug-use rates, delay the onset of use, reduce drug-use frequency, and cut the use of multiple substances among those who do take drugs. It is part of the conservative government’s National Anti-Drug Strategy released in the fall and will include a two-year media campaign.

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(Summary of ProMedMail Report of 24 January 2008)

Responding to concerns raised by Indonesia and other developing countries, the WHO has instituted an electronic tracking system to track H5N1 isolates submitted, and what is done with them. Vietnam and Indonesia have provided the most isolates, but are concerned that private companies that are developing vaccines from these isolates will market vaccines that are too expensive for developing countries to purchase in the event of an outbreak. In 2007, as a result of these concerns, Indonesia withheld samples for 5 months.

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An ad campaign targeting 12- to 17-year-olds in Idaho and warning about the dangers of methamphetamine use was launched this week, The Twin Falls Times-News reported Jan. 7.

The ads from the Idaho Meth Project, which closely mirrors a similar campaign in Montana, began appearing on local TV. The Idaho group is spending $2.7 million to support the campaign, with support from state government as well as private donors.

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Here is a new site by MTV - think.mtv.com. They have various videos and links that of course feature artists and also non-artist involvement. MTV can clearly be a powerful motivator, their engagement is interesting and a testament to the hipness of being involved in social causes or at least giving that perception. Let’s hope this does well and gets a younger generation mobilized, screen shots and description below (along with a Jay Z video of him at the UN, click on the picture):

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Massachusetts has launched a statewide public awareness campaign to address and reduce the stigma associated with addiction.

The campaign promotes a new website, TalkAboutAddiction.org, which launched Sept. 1 to coincide with Recovery Month, according to Michael Botticelli, Director of the state’s? Bureau of Substance Abuse Services? in the Department of Public Health.

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Middle-school students in North Carolina will receive media-literacy education on alcohol ads and other media that promote underage drinking under a new state initiative, the Raleigh News & Observer reported Sept. 12.

The program, called “Media Ready,” features 10 lessons designed to be delivered in school and was unveiled this week by First Lady Mary Easley and acting U.S. Surgeon General Kenneth Moritsugu. The curriculum already is in use in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro and Chatham schools.

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