Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Health Care Law Battle Moves to Budget Debate
Republican efforts to fight the new health care law have become
part of the budget debate, with a proposal to block funds to
implement the measure.
The scheme was brought forward by Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont.,
who said the health care law was a budget-breaking overreach by the
federal government. Democrats countered by saying the law has
helped families, will create health care jobs and reduce the
federal deficit, the
Associated Press reported.
"It's a law designed by those who wish to control every health care decision made by health care providers and patients, by every employer and employee, by every family and individual," Rehberg said.
Killing the health care law would "put insurance companies back
in charge, further demonstrating the (Republican) majority's
special-interest priorities and hypocrisy on job creation and
deficit reduction," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the
AP reported.
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Migraine Caused TV Reporter's Stroke-Like Symptoms
Doctors say a migraine caused the stroke-like symptoms
experienced by a TV reporter as she was doing a live report outside
the Grammys.
The incident involving KCBS-TV reporter Serene Branson led to
Internet speculation that she suffered a stroke. But after
conducting a brain scan and doing blood work, doctors at the
University of California, Los Angeles concluded that Branson
suffered a type of migraine that can mimic symptoms of a stroke,
the
Associated Press reported.
In an interview with her TV station, Branson said she developed
" a really bad headache" and had trouble reading her notes before
the incident, but assumed she was just tired.
"A migraine is not just a headache. It's a complicated brain event," UCLA neurologist Dr. Andrew Charles, who examine Branson, told the AP.
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Plastic Surgeons Downplaying Breast Implant Cancer Risk, Group
Says
A U.S. advocacy group wants the Food and Drug Administration to
stop what it calls a misinformation campaign meant to downplay the
cancer-related risks of breast implants.
The Public Citizen's Health Research Group is upset about advice
given by the president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons
during an online seminar Feb. 3,
The New York Times reported.
Dr. Phil Haeck said when talking with patients, plastic surgeons
should refer to a rare type of cancer linked to breast implants as
"a condition," and avoid using the words cancer, tumor, disease or
malignancy.
On Jan. 26, the FDA announced that breast implants may be
associated with a small but significant increase in anaplastic
large-cell lymphoma (ALC).
Public Citizen took Haeck's remarks out of context and
misconstrued them, according to a statement released by the
American Society of Plastic Surgeons,
The Times reported.
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Republicans Target Funding for Planned Parenthood
Members of Congress are fighting a battle over funding for
Planned Parenthood, which offers contraception, medical services
and abortions at 800 clinics across the United States.
A proposal to cut the entire $317 million program of aid for
family planning is included in a spending bill expected to be
passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives,
The New York Times reported.
A proposed amendment to the bill would also forbid Planned
Parenthood from receiving any federal money for any purpose.
But it's unlikely the Democrat-controlled Senate will agree to
cut all funding for Planned Parenthood or broader federal aid for
birth control that helps five million low-income women, Susan
Cohen, director of governmental affairs for the Guttmacher
Institute research organization, told
The Times.
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Judge Asked to Clarify Health Care Law Ruling
A federal judge has been asked by the White House to clarify
whether his recent ruling against the new health care law was meant
to halt its implementation while appeals are heard.
On Jan. 31, Roger Vinson of the Federal District Court in
Pensacola, Fla. ruled that the health care law's provision that
most Americans must obtain health insurance was unconstitutional,
and that the entire health care law was invalid,
The New York Times reported.
Vinson suggestion that his ruling be regarded at the "functional
equivalent" of an injunction has led to conflicting interpretations
among federal government lawyers and those representing the 26
states challenging the health care law.
On Thursday, Justice Department lawyers asked Vinson to clarify
that his ruling does not relieve states of their obligation to
implement the requirements of the new health care law while appeals
are filed and heard,
The Times reported.
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