Florida sues Biden administration over new transgender health care rule
Florida’s top prosecutor and a Catholic medical group on Tuesday sued the Biden administration in an effort to block a rule that they say will force doctors to provide gender transition care against their judgment or face heavy penalties.
The lawsuit by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and the Catholic Medical Association (CMA), filed in federal court in Tampa, takes aim at a new rule, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Services (HHS) on Monday that would ban discrimination in health care on the basis of gender identity.
The rule is based on an anti-discrimination provision within the Affordable Care Act, the national health insurance law better known as Obamacare, which forbids sex discrimination.
In their complaint, Moody and CMA say the new rule goes beyond the anti-discrimination law. They say it would force doctors to provide, and insurance to pay for, treatments including puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for transgender minors and adults against their medical or ethical judgment.
They also said the rule conflicted with a Florida law banning such treatments, which are known as gender-affirming care, for minors.
“These rules trample states’ power to protect their own citizens and we will not stand by as Biden tries, yet again, to use the force of the federal government to unlawfully stifle Florida’s effort to protect children,” Moody said in a statement.
The plaintiffs claim that the rule is “arbitrary and capricious” under a federal law governing agency rulemaking, and violates doctors’ right to free speech and freedom of religion under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. They are asking the court for an order blocking its enforcement.
HHS said not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The agency and major medical organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have said that gender-affirming
Influence of COVID-19 on trust in routine immunization, health information sources and pandemic preparedness in 23 countries in 2023
The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus in late 2019 precipitated a global health emergency that contributed to more than 7 million reported deaths globally as of 19 January 2024 (ref. 1) and an estimated 18.2 million excess deaths between 1 January 2020 and 31 December 2021 (ref. 2). The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, requiring urgent international intervention, led to an accelerated pace of research and development of multiple safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines, which were first authorized for emergency use in December 20203. The expeditious vaccine development and limited availability resulted in serious challenges in the equitable global distribution of vaccines, coupled with vaccine-related misinformation and mistrust of the science behind vaccine safety4.
Vaccine hesitancy5, pandemic fatigue6 and vaccine fatigue, defined as the ‘inertia or inaction toward vaccine information or instruction due to perceived burden and burnout’7, continue to present challenges to vaccine uptake in 2023. Although COVID-19 has been deprioritized as a substantial public health threat since 2023, the virus strains continue to circulate and, in some settings, lead to new increases in hospitalization and intensive care unit admission1. The potential impact of vaccine hesitancy on confidence in booster doses remains substantial8. In addition, documented spillover effects on routine immunization pose a threat for the reemergence of some childhood and adult vaccine-preventable diseases9,10.
In this Brief Communication, the fourth study in a series of annual global surveys across 23 countries (Brazil, Canada, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Italy, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States)11,12,13, we report perspectives of adults in the general public on COVID-19 and
Life Kit’s expert advice on the health realities of new motherhood : NPR
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 12. If you’re thinking about getting pregnant or if you’ve just given birth, Life Kit is here to help.
Our archive of episodes on maternal and reproductive health can help you understand your menstrual cycle, navigate pregnancy complications such as postpartum depression and pregnancy loss, and help you prepare for another pregnancy.
Find a link to all these episodes and more in Life Kit’s guide for moms and moms to be.
Trying to get pregnant? Brush up on your knowledge of your menstrual cycle. The ovulation step is when you have the greatest chance of getting pregnant – or when you’re most fertile. This period of high fertility is about six days. You’re most likely to get pregnant a few days before and after your body releases its egg. Read the story here.
A primer on freezing your eggs. A typical check-up will start with an ultrasound of the ovaries so they can see how many follicles you have. Follicles are the small sacs that surround the eggs. After that, you’ll have blood drawn to measure your level of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH). If the doctor decides you are a good candidate for egg banking, they might want to start the process right away. Read the story here.
How your brain changes when you’re pregnant. Pregnancy marks the beginning of a very distinct developmental stage of life that shapes our physical and mental health for the long term, says Chelsea Conaboy, author of the book Mother Brain: How Neuroscience Is Rewriting The Story Of Parenthood. “Those dramatic changes that happen to our hormones during pregnancy are priming the brain to be more plastic, more malleable, more changeable, and ready, essentially, to receive our babies.” Read the comic here.
Pregnant? It’s
Fashion’s environmental toll: urgent calls for change
Fashion is a huge part of us as people and is a reflection of our beliefs and cultural expressions, but it has quickly turned into something that significantly endangers the environment. This year’s Earth Day on the 22nd of focused on the theme, ‘planet vs. plastics.’ The goal was to advocate for widespread awareness on the health risks of plastics, rapidly phase out all single-use plastics, urgently push for a strong UN treaty on plastic pollution, and demand an end to fast fashion.
The fast fashion industry operates on a ‘race to the bottom’ model to produce the greatest number of garments at the lowest price. With cheap production, lowered costs and societal pressure to constantly consume clothing, fashion’s numbers are staggering: 100 billion garments made annually, 87% ending in landfills or incinerators and only 1% recycled.
Toxic textile processing pollutes freshwater systems harming connected ecosystems, and each year 200 million trees are razed for cellulosic fibres imperilling biodiversity. 69% of clothes are made from crude oil, and washing them accounts for 35% of the ocean’s microplastics. Microfibers are in the food chain, air, soil, and appear deep in our organs and our bloodstreams threatening our existence.
The textile and apparel industry plays an important role in the global economy by providing jobs and income. In Kenya, the sector is the third largest exporter after horticulture and tea. It contributes to the nation’s economy, representing 0.6% of GDP and accounting for 6% of the manufacturing sector. It earns 7% of the country’s total export earnings. New clothes are manufactured in the export processing zone (EPZ), exported to the US, UK, and EU, and then re-imported into Kenya as second hand clothes.
The EPZs are managed by the export processing zones authority (EPZA) whose board of directors comprises members appointed from
Reopening of Carberry emergency department ‘light at the end of the tunnel’: health advocate
Dozens of Carberry residents gathered outside their local emergency department on Friday and applauded as government officials announced they’ve secured more health-care staff, enabling the long-closed space to reopen.
Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Premier Wab Kinew announced three physicians have been hired and will work on rotation to support the reopening of the emergency department at the Carberry Health Centre, located about 160 kilometres west of Winnipeg.
“Locally, provincially and even federally, we’ve sadly seen our health-care system crumble,” Loretta Oliver, a member of a local health action community group, said at the news conference.
“The journey that has brought us to today’s announcement has not been easy. And in fact it has been at times so very disheartening…. Today’s announcement is the first major step in a positive direction.”
The ER was closed indefinitely nearly nine months ago, after a staff physician’s contract expired.
Two nurse practitioners continued to provide care at a walk-in clinic four times a week in Carberry, a community in the rural municipality of North Cypress-Langford, which is home to about 6,000 people.
Carberry Health Centre is a 10-bed facility that also has three-dozen personal care home beds, a clinic and an ER. It also offers diagnostic, rehabilitation and home care services.
WATCH | Advocate praises province for reopening ER:
Local health advocate Loretta Oliver thanked Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara Friday, as the province announced physicians had been hired to enable the Carberry Health Centre’s emergency department to reopen after a months-long closure.
Data obtained by CBC through a freedom of information request earlier this year said the Carberry Health Centre was closed 10 times last year, for the equivalent of over 141 days — one of several rural or remote facilities
Workers nursing health care to positive outcomes for B.C. Indigenous patients
West Coast pair advocating for patients who haven’t had great relationships with hospitals
By Alexandra Mehl, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter HA-SHILTH-SA
Amanda Watts of Tseshaht and Deb Melvin of the Metlakatla First Nation have a varied day-to-day schedule at the West Coast General Hospital, but it’s always centered on ensuring their Indigenous patients feel safe and get the care they need.
As an Indigenous patient navigator (IPN) Melvin is busy answering phone calls from her patients, nurses and doctors, organizing and advocating for their care, planning for their discharge or transportation, all while supporting not only the patient, but their family, as they navigate the health care system.
Though Melvin is a new employee of Island Health, she’s been working in her position at WCGH, employed by Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, for five years.
Watts, who is an Indigenous liaison nurse (ILN), supports patients in the Emergency Room, ensuring those coming to WCGH have what they need. She sits with them, listens to them, and builds connections, sometimes becoming a point of communication between the patient and the doctor. Given notice, she’ll even meet her patients as they enter the facility.
The team of two are there to walk beside their patients on their journey through the healthcare system, advocating for and helping empower them.
“It’s important for people to know that we’re here,” said Watts, who began the new IPN position in February. “I’m very passionate about supporting my people.”
“I’m here, I’m working here, but I’m here for you,” she noted.
Given Canada’s colonial history of residential schools and segregated Indian hospitals, there are many gaps for First Nations in the health care system.
“We have to understand the legacy of the Indian hospital in this province,” reads a quote from an unidentified health care provider in the In-Plain-Sight
Data privacy an ongoing issue in midst of pregnancy, period tracking
‘With so much sensitive information online about our health, habits, and lives, we need to stay vigilant about bad actors trying to get their hands on it’ – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
NEWS RELEASE
GOVERNOR GRETCHEN WHITMER
**********************
Amid a national conversation on pregnancy and period tracking, Governor Gretchen Whitmer reminded Michiganders to check their health apps and be mindful of any data that is shared with app developers and third parties. She also urged residents, particularly those attending college out of state in places that restrict access to abortion, to check Attorney General Dana Nessel’s consumer alerts on private health and location data.
“Every Michigander deserves privacy and control over their own health information,” said Governor Whitmer. “With so much sensitive information online about our health, habits, and lives, we need to stay vigilant about bad actors trying to get their hands on it. Without adequate protections, our data could be used to go after women seeking reproductive health care, their friends and family, and to prosecute nurses and doctors for doing their jobs. Here in Michigan, we are going to protect people’s data and their reproductive freedom. I urge Michiganders to check their health apps, especially if they live in a state with restrictions on abortion and contraception.”
“Protecting a person’s rights to bodily autonomy and privacy in their medical decisions go hand in hand,” said Attorney General Nessel. “While Michiganders overwhelmingly supported reproductive freedom in 2022, the outlook nationally following the fall of Roe remains largely unknown. That is why even here in Michigan, it’s critical that residents read the fine print in the user agreements for applications and programs pertaining to their private health information. Oftentimes, registration through these platforms gives companies the right to sell personal information to other companies and organizations,
Textile Revolution: Transforming Fashion for a Sustainable Future
This article is included in these additional categories:
In the glitz and glamour of the fashion world, a darker truth lurks beneath the surface: oversupply and waste. Annually, 60 billion garments, representing up to 40% of production, are left unsold, relegated to warehouses, or destined for residence in a landfill. This surplus amplifies the industry’s carbon footprint and compounds its waste epidemic.
Local Brands and American-made Clothing
Supporting local brands isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s a sustainable choice. These brands champion environmental and economic well-being by reducing transportation costs and fostering community connections. American-made clothing, emphasizing transparency, provides consumers insight into working conditions and safety regulations, fostering a culture of accountability. What local brands do you support?
Confronting Fashion Waste
In the United States alone, 16 million tons of textile waste are generated annually, constituting over 6% of total municipal waste. Shockingly, 13% of discarded clothing finds new life through recycling or repurposing, while the rest languishes in landfills, contributing to environmental degradation.
Leading the Charge: Sustainable American Brands
Despite the challenges, a cadre of conscious American brands is leading the charge toward a more sustainable future:
- Mate The Label: Nestled in Los Angeles, Mate The Label pioneers “clean essentials” crafted from non-toxic, natural, and organic materials.
- Patagonia: Revered for its outdoor wear, Patagonia is synonymous with environmental and social responsibility, leveraging recycled materials and advocating for fair labor practices.
- Happy Earth Apparel: With a focus on organic clothing, Happy Earth Apparel minimizes its ecological footprint while maximizing style and substance.
- Harvest & Mill: Championing carbon-neutral apparel, Harvest & Mill employs organic materials and maintains a traceable U.S.-based supply chain, setting a precedent for sustainable sourcing.
- Unspun: Revolutionizing denim production, Unspun adopts made-to-order techniques alongside low-impact, localized, and automated processes, redefining the future of fashion manufacturing.
Sustainable Fashion
Health-care workers pulled out of Thessalon First Nation following privacy breach
‘It was honestly shocking’: Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services informed patients that a nurse with the First Nation accessed personal health information without authorization
Maamwesying North Shore Community Health Services pulled all of its health-care workers out of Thessalon First Nation last month following a privacy breach involving unauthorized access to patients’ personal health records.
A letter from the Indigenous health-care provider was sent to patients who had been impacted by the privacy breach this past March. Although it remains unclear exactly how many people were affected by the breach, sources tell SooToday it’s believed that more than 20 people who received health-care services in Thessalon First Nation had their personal health information compromised when a staff member with the First Nation accessed their files.
Approximately 113 people live in Thessalon First Nation, according to recent statistics from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada.
“Please be reassured that there is no indication your personal health information (meaning your diagnoses, test results, clinical notes, address or contact information) was shared with anyone else,” said the letter. “The community staff member has confirmed that no copies were made and that your health record was not altered or removed from the building.”
The letter also indicated the staff member no longer had access to Maamwesying’s electronic medical record, and that the health-care provider was reviewing its privacy policies, providing mandatory privacy re-training for employees and community partners, and posting privacy information in its waiting room to ensure patients know their privacy rights.
“In the future, we will continue to focus on ongoing staff and community privacy training as a priority,” said the letter. “We will also continue privacy audits of our electronic medical records system to ensure we are notified of any unusual activity in patient files.”
Maamwesying did not respond to
Kenya Travel Advice & Safety
Crime is high in Kenya and increases during holiday periods.
Incidents of armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping and muggings are possible in:
- Nairobi and other urban centres (e.g. Mombasa)
- some coastal regions, including all of Lamu County, and areas of Tana River and Kilifi Counties
- North Eastern region (Mandera, Wajir and Garissa counties)
- Some parts of North Rift and Central Rift regions (Turkana, West Pokot, Elgeyo Marakwet, Baringo, Laikipia and Samburu counties)
Petty crime
Thieves snatch jewellery and bags from open vehicle windows, most often while cars are stopped at traffic lights or in heavy traffic.
Groups of bag-snatchers and carjackers on motorbikes target pedestrians and motorists.
Robberies also occur on trains and buses.
To protect yourself from theft:
- always keep vehicle doors locked, windows up and valuables out of sight, even when moving
- secure your accommodation, even when you’re in it
- avoid walking after dark
- avoid walking in isolated back-alleys and lanes.
Violent crime
Violent crimes include:
- armed carjackings
- kidnapping
- home invasions
Foreigners have been targeted in private homes in Nairobi, tourist areas and while travelling by road. Several incidents have occurred at night outside residential security gates.
Violent crime is particularly common in the Nairobi suburbs of Eastleigh and Kibera. Take extra precautions in these areas.
If you’re living in Kenya, invest in strong personal security measures. Regularly review your personal security arrangements.
Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
Police regularly confront criminal suspects in public places. Random gunfire has killed or wounded bystanders in crowded areas.
Due to widespread HIV/AIDS, if you’re a victim of violent crime such as rape, visit a doctor immediately.
Food and drink spiking
Some criminals target foreigners with food and drink spiking. Their motivations can be for assault, including sexual assault, and theft.
To protect yourself:
- never leave food or drinks unattended