Affirmative action in med school, love in the PICU, and more

July 2, 2023 Check out STAT+

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By Torie Bosch Editor, First Opinion

This week on First Opinion, three physicians — authors of a recent study on the disparities that keep underrepresented minorities from medical school — weigh in on the recent Supreme Court affirmative action decision. A pediatric psychologist writes a heartbreaking essay about how continuity of care nursing in the PICU brought comfort, even love, to her family while her 5-year-old daughter was dying. Experts weigh in on air quality indoors and out. And much more. Have an idea for or thought about First Opinion? Email me: first.opinion@statnews.com. And have a very happy Fourth!

Adobe The Supreme Court's affirmative action decision puts lives at risk The affirmative action ban comes as health disparities in the U.S. worsen. Medical schools should take these steps to encourage diversity. By Jessica Faiz and Utibe R. Essien and Donna L. Washington The love my daughter and I found in the PICU Love exists in the PICU, and continuous care staffing policies may make it easier for this love to surround those who so desperately need it. By Sarah McCarthy CMS must protect access to the 'gold standard of breast reconstruction' Already, some insurers have announced they will stop reimbursing doctors for DIEP flap after CMS decided to end its medical billing code. By Lisa D. T. Rice David Dee Delgado/Getty Images Smoke from Canadian wildfires shows outdoor workers need air quality protections In the face of a changing climate, millions of laborers are exposed to poor air quality and other unsafe environmental conditions. By Susan Anenberg and David Michaels Listen: Cancer drug shortages should be causing more outrage Cancer drug shortages have reached crisis levels, even leading to some rationing of care, says oncologist Kristen Rice. By Torie Bosch It's past time to address the problem of indoor air quality. A new technology can help How expanded use of far-UVC light could clean airborne pathogens and promote healthier indoor environments. By Juan Cambeiro and Brian Potter Adobe A seemingly small semantic issue is a major roadblock to develop treatments for rare diseases Better distinguishing between repurposing drugs and repositioning them might sound pedantic. But it's not. By Annette Bakker CMS change could slow the crucial growth of 'food as medicine' CMS changes make it harder to deploy food-as-medicine interventions, refine their delivery, and better understand their impact. By Adam Shyevitch Health misinformation is rampant in youth baseball. Why isn't MLB doing more to help? Most youth baseball players receive little guidance on sports-specific injury prevention, and education for coaches and parents is lacking. By Stuart Wallace and Stephanie Springer

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