Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
NYC Circumcision Rule Challenged in Lawsuit
A lawsuit filed with a federal court seeks to block enforcement
of a New York City regulation regarding an ancient Jewish
circumcision ritual which city health officials say can spread
infection and has killed two children since 2004.
During the ritual, the circumcision provider attempts to cleanse
the wound by sucking blood from the cut and spitting it aside, the
Associated Pressreported.
The new law requires people performing the ritual to inform
parents that the city believes the procedure is dangerous and to
have the parents sign a consent form. The city would not collect
the forms, which would have to be kept for a year before being
destroyed.
In their lawsuit, three rabbis and three Jewish groups contend
that city health officials exaggerated the potential for harm and
infringed on their religious freedom. In responding to the legal
action, city health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley issued a
statement calling the new rule "lawful, appropriate and necessary."
the
APreported.
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Oakland Sues U.S. Government to Stop Closure of Medical
Marijuana Dispensary
The federal government's attempt to seize property leased to the
largest medical marijuana supplier in the United States is being
challenged by the City of Oakland.
The city on Wednesday filed a civil lawsuit in federal court to
block the Department of Justice from seizing the property housing
the nonprofit Harborside Health Center dispensary,
The New York Timesreported.
The dispensary employs 100 people and serves 112,000 clients,
seeing 600 to 800 customers a day. Last year, Harborside paid $3.5
million taxes, including $1.1 million to the city.
"This lawsuit is about protecting the rights of legitimate medical patients," city attorney Barbara Parker said in a statement, The Timesreported. "I am deeply dismayed that the federal government would seek to deny these rights and deprive thousands of seriously ill Californians of access to safe, affordable and effective medicine."
Federal prosecutors have boosted their efforts to close medical
marijuana dispensaries in California. Oakland is the first city to
file a lawsuit to protect a dispensary.
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Robin Roberts Leaves Hospital After Bone Marrow Transplant
"Good Morning America" host Robin Roberts has returned home from the hospital three weeks after she underwent a bone marrow transplant for a blood and bone marrow disease called MDS.
Roberts' sister was the donor, the
Associated Pressreported.
Leaving hospital is the first big step in her recovery, but it
will take time for Roberts to build up her immune system and gather
strength, her doctor said.
On Wednesday, "Good Morning America" aired a story about
Roberts' homecoming, the
APreported.
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