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EVERYTHING
What Happens to Health Research When ‘Women’ Is a Banned Word?
What: The 19th has a deep dive on how the Trump administration’s focus on cutting “DEI” has caused widespread uncertainty among researchers who specifically focuses on women’s health. Just one example of research that had money pulled? A Columbia grad student study the “biomechanics of uterine fibroids — tissue growths that can cause severe pain, bleeding and even infertility. Uterine fibroids, an under researched condition, impact up to 77 percent of women as they age.”
Key Line: “‘I want every generation to be healthier than the last, and I’m worried we may have some real setbacks,’ said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, a professor and clinician at Johns Hopkins University who studies the consequences of pregnancy-related infections and the causes of birth defects.”
Source: The 19th
RFK Jr. Plans 10,000 Job Cuts in Major Restructuring of Health Department
What: Health and Human Services Sec. RFK Jr. announced a plan to cut 10,000 full-time employees, shutting down several internal agencies and closing regional offices responsible for disease response and drug approvals. These cuts are in addition to 10,000 employees who voluntarily left the department once the Trump administration began. The cuts add up to about one quarter of the HHS workforce, with many directly hitting the FDA and the CDC.
Key Line: “‘It does not take a genius to understand that pushing out 20,000 workers at our pre-eminent health agencies won’t make Americans healthier—it’ll just mean fewer health services for our communities, more opportunities for disease to spread, and longer waits for lifesaving treatments and cures,’ said Sen. Patty Murray (D., Wash.).”
Source: The Wall Street Journal
PREGNANCY + POSTPARTUM
Blood Test Could Predict Postpartum Depression
What: Scientific American looks at the recent study that found pregnant women who developed postpartum depression metabolized progesterone differently in their third trimester, possibly influencing a neurotransmitter that affects mood. The research suggests that a blood test could help predict postpartum depression before symptoms even begin, allowing for early intervention and treatment.
Key Line: “’This is important, as [postpartum] depression is often only recognized at a relatively late stage, and then the long-term consequences for both mother and child are generally more severe,’ says Elseline Hoekzema, a neuroscientist who runs the Pregnancy and the Brain Lab at Amsterdam University Medical Center and was not involved in the study.”
Source: Scientific American
ABORTION ACCESS
New York County Clerk Blocks Texas Court Filing Against Doctor Over Abortion Pills
What: A New York county clerk blocked Texas from taking legal action against a New York doctor who gave abortion pills to a Texas woman, fueling the interstate battle over abortion rights to a new level. The case is expected to eventually reach the Supreme Court.
Key Line: “’In accordance with the New York State Shield Law, I have refused this filing and will refuse any similar filings that may come to our office,’ Mr. Bruck said in a statement. ‘Since this decision is likely to result in further litigation, I must refrain from discussing specific details about the situation.’”
Source: New York Times
Texas GOP Lawmakers Finally Want Amend Abortion Ban
What: Texas Republicans are proposing changes to the state’s abortion ban after reports of preventable maternal deaths, including from sepsis. The updated language would allow for terminations in cases of serious medical risks without waiting for emergencies. The bill faces criticism for still imposing steep penalties on violators. And whether it will pass is unclear.
Key Line: “It is part of a wave of legislation responding to public pressure after ProPublica’s reporting revealed preventable maternal deaths in states with abortion bans. Bills that have the most traction have been filed and championed by the same Republicans who passed the bans and they have earned a mixed reception.”
Source: ProPublica
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