Tag Archives: FDA

The Smoking Wars: Menthol, Minors, and More Smoking Bans

Posted on July 26, 2013 by Laura Newman

In case you thought that the war against smoking was in our rear-view mirror, it’s not.  On Monday, I had a guest blog on Scientific American concerning electronic cigarettes, which provoked a lot of heat and discussion. I’ll put it … Continue reading →

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Warning Signs No. 2: Metal-on-Metal Hips,
Lung Cancer Death Rates, Ecigarette and Food Safety

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Laura Newman

It’s a new year and here’s another segment on warning signs. I am glad to see that this month, the hazards of metal-on-metal hips, covered in the first warning signs issue, are being examined. 40% Failure Rate of Johnson and … Continue reading →

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Lung Cancer Death Rates, Ecigarette and Food Safety

Metal-on-Metal Hips: A Tale of Harm, Weak
Medical Device-Approval, and Lax Postmarket Scrutiny

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Laura Newman

Nearly 1 million metal-on- metal hips have been implanted in patients in the United States, making the US the world’s largest consumer of the implants. According to a BMJ/BBC Newsnight Investigation released today, the “risks associated with these devices have … Continue reading →

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Inattention to Drug Safety in the Elderly
Leaves Generations At Risk

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Laura Newman

This post originally appeared in a slightly different form in Scientific American’s guest blog on June 30, 2011. My frail, 92-year-old mother was prescribed 80 mg of the cholesterol-lowering drug, or statin, simvastatin (Zocor) for years, possibly decades. She fell … Continue reading →

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Conservative Drug Prescribing:
A Plea for Principles and Action

Posted on June 21, 2011 by Laura Newman

Does the concept of “conservative drug prescribing,” where doctors evaluate your medical history, examine you thoroughly, and think of ways to help you, without reaching for the latest new pill, mean much to you? If your experience is anything like … Continue reading →

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A Plea for Principles and Action