RFK Jr.’s antivax presidential run, involuntary addiction treatment, and more

April 30, 2023 Check out STAT+

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By Torie Bosch Editor, First Opinion

This week on First Opinion: Public health advocate Leah Russin offers thoughtful advice to help journalists cover Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s run for president without inadvertently promoting his anti-vaccine views. Sarah Wakeman explains why involuntary treatment for people with substance abuse disorder is a bad idea. Ben Green argues that at-home clinical trials are the future. All that and more below. If you have an essay you think might be a fit for First Opinion, please send it to first.opinion@statnews.com.

Patrick Semansky/AP How journalists can cover RFK Jr.'s antivax presidential run responsibly Seven things that the media should do to cover RFK Jr. without accidentally spreading anti-vaccine disinformation. By Leah Russin A judge's infuriating ruling on vaccination puts Mississippi's children at risk A judge's preliminary injunction requiring Mississippi to provide a religious exemption for vaccines puts the state's children at risk. By Dorit R. Reiss and Arthur L. Caplan Why involuntary treatment for addiction is a dangerous idea The evidence is quite clear that addiction is a treatable health condition, and what works is voluntary, welcoming, low-barrier treatment. By Sarah E. Wakeman CRISTIAN HERNANDEZ/AFP via Getty Images There's a surprisingly easy way to avoid a huge number of major amputations More than 400 Americans undergo major amputation of a leg every day. A low-tech intervention could help many of them. By Mehdi Shishehbor STAT+ | At-home clinical trials are the future Many of the standard clinical-trial processes that take place on site can now be replaced by technology at home. By Ben Green How small vaccine stockpiles can stop outbreaks of infectious disease from becoming big The strategic use of relatively small vaccine stockpiles to stamp out outbreaks quickly is likely to become increasingly important By Seth Berkley

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