The heartbreak of rare diseases; family caregiving and dementia; abortion and adoption; and more

March 5, 2023 Check out STAT+

Sponsored By

By Patrick Skerrett Editor, First Opinion

This week in First Opinion, a mother urged the FDA to be more flexible about clinical trials for rare diseases; a photo essay explored the challenges of being a family caretaker for a loved one with dementia; an adoptee made the case for why adoption isn't a simple alternative to abortion; and more. You can read them, and the week's other First Opinion essays, here.

Adobe My son's time is running out due to a rare disease. The FDA needs to add more clinical trial flexibility The FDA's once-flexible Division of Rare Diseases and Medical Genetics is taking a more conservative approach to rare disease. By Judy Stecker An intimate look at dementia — and the emotional toll it takes on family and caregivers Leandra Manos took on the role of full-time caregiver for her father, George, who is in the late state of dementia. By Steven G. Smith Adoption is not a simple or easy alternative to abortion The Supreme Court alluded to adoption as an alternative to abortion. What might sound fine in a footnote doesn't translate to the real world. By Laura Goetz JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images HHS's Environmental Justice Index institutionalizes climate apartheid The Environmental Justice Index announced by HHS will do many things — except provide environmental justice. By David Introcaso How physician wellness programs keep doctors captive Wellness programs put the onus of resolving burnout on individual physicians. That's wrong, especially since these programs don't work. By Mark G. Shrime Nonprofit hospitals are failing Americans. Their boards may be a reason why A study of 15 top nonprofit hospitals shows glaring inadequacies on their boards of directors, including the lack of frontline workers. By Sanjay Kishore and Suhas Gondi Adobe New analysis: CMS vastly overestimates hospital price transparency efforts A CMS report that 70% of hospitals are transparently publishing their prices is wrong. Only 25% are complying with the two key rules. By Cynthia A. Fisher Redefining sustainability in health care: putting patients before profits Pharmaceutical companies tout their sustainability efforts. They need to walk the walk and make long-term investments in health equity. By Jayasree K. Iyer and Pat Garcia-Gonzalez A bipartisan approach to pandemic security? It's within reach Pandemic security can be attained with action that bridges political divides and provides community-focused options for public health. By Beth Cameron and Gary Edson and J. Stephen Morrison

More around STAT

Check out more exclusive coverage with a STAT+ subscription Read premium in-depth biotech, pharma, policy, and life science coverage and analysis with all of our STAT+ articles.

---

Enjoying First Opinion? Tell us about your experience Continue reading the latest health & science news with the STAT app Download on the App Store or get it on Google Play

STAT, 1 Exchange Place, Boston, MA ©2023, All Rights Reserved. I no longer wish to receive STAT emails

Update Newsletter Preferences     •    Contact Us     •    Advertise with Us     •    View in Browser