November 2019 nature; Google and one of the largest health-care networks in the United States are embroiled in a data-privacy controversy that researchers fear could jeopardize public trust in data-sharing practices and, potentially, academic studies. At issue is a project dubbed Nightingale that gives Google access to the health-care information, …
Read More »Can’t Pay the Medical Bill? Your Hospital May Take You to Court
November 2019 YahooNews; When a judge hears civil cases at the courthouse in this southwest Virginia town two days a month, many of the lawsuits have a common plaintiff: the local hospital, Ballad Health, suing patients over unpaid medical bills. On a Thursday in August, 102 of the 160 cases …
Read More »Racial bias found in widely used health care algorithm
November 2019 NBCNews; A widely used health care algorithm that helps determine which patients need additional attention was found to have a significant racial bias, favoring white patients over blacks ones who were sicker and had more chronic health conditions, according to research published last week in the journalScience. The bias …
Read More »Facebook launches new tool to help you get health tests and screenings
October 2019 CNN; Facebook has launched a new feature to help track what preventive health screenings might be recommended for you based on your age and sex.The tool, called Preventive Health, rolled out in the United States on Monday and focuses specifically on cardiovascular health, cancer screening and seasonal flu …
Read More »Does drinking urine have any real health benefits?
October 2019 MedicalNews; There is no evidence that drinking urine offers any health benefits. While most people experience no serious harm from drinking urine, there are some risks. A person may drink urine by accident or intentionally. Various cultures have consumed urine for religious or health reasons for millennia. In the …
Read More »WHO expert panel on digital health meets for first time
October 2019 WHO news; WHO is convening global experts to help shape the Organization’s roadmap to advance the digital health ecosystem. The WHO Digital Health Technical Advisory Group met for the first time this week to discuss topics ranging from data governance, to ethical and equitable use of digital technologies, …
Read More »USA: STDs at all-time-high: How did we get here?
October 2019 Yahoo360; The combined number of cases of syphilis, gonorrhea and chlamydia in the U.S. reached an all-time high in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 2.4 million cases of the three sexually transmitted diseases were reported last year, an increase of more than …
Read More »A Budding Industry: CBD/Cannabidiol Statistics & Trends (Infographic)
October 2019 Bojana Petkovic ;What is CBD all about and why are cannabis and hemp oil all over the internet? To help you understand this rapidly growing industry, we’re going to present you with some interesting CBD statistics and facts. CBD or cannabidiol is one of the most important active …
Read More »Over 3,000 Killed by Deadly Virus in Democratic Republic of the Congo This Year – And It’s Not Ebola
September 2019 theConversation; Ebola outbreaks, such as the current one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which has claimed 2,074 people’s lives, are widely covered in the media. But another virus is ravaging the DRC with minimal publicity. That virus is measles. Although measles has a much lower mortality …
Read More »Five ways to safely research your health symptoms online
August 2019 theguardian; You need not feel shy about having looked up your condition when you go to see your GP – but neither should you turn it into an ‘internet v doctor’ face-off Be confident , but considerate There is no need for you to feel self-conscious about letting your …
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