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Health / Medicine

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Komen fight opens door to election showdown on women's rights

Posted Tue, Feb 7, 2 a.m.

By Floyd McKay

The issues of abortion, birth control, and women's rights could play large in the presidential and Senate contests, including in Washington.

Komen's climb-down brings elation at regional Planned Parenthood

Posted Fri, Feb 3, 2 p.m.

By Bob Simmons

After a long few days, there's relief that breast-cancer screening support won't be cut off.

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State putting pressure on D.C. to get real about medical marijuana

Posted Fri, Feb 3, 2 a.m.

By John Stang

The feds are legally obligated to respond to Gov. Gregoire on a request to allow doctors and pharmacies to handle it as a drug. And the state Senate may add its voice in favor of reform

Komen cuts to Planned Parenthood hit Northwest

Posted Tue, Jan 31, 9:19 p.m.

By Bob Simmons

Anti-abortion activism has caused estrangement of two agencies serving women's health needs. Caught in the middle: women in Washington and Idaho served by breast-cancer screenings.

How painkillers and alcohol nearly killed a friendship and a college career

Posted Sat, Jan 28, 6:30 a.m.

By Stephanie Schendel

A friend's battle with addiction and alcoholism leads to the ER -- and anger on the part of a friend who tried to help. But there's real strength in fighting every day to move forward rather than slip back toward another relapse.

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Drug industry has so far stalled safety and pollution measure

Posted Mon, Jan 23, 2 a.m.

By Robert McClure/InvestigateWest and Stephanie Schendel

Pharmaceutical companies say that a bill from state Sen. Adam Kline to require take-back programs for unused prescription drugs would duplicate federal efforts and do little.

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Prescription for abuse: difficulties for reform efforts

Posted Mon, Jan 23, 2 a.m.

By Carol Smith/Investigate West

Too many people are abusing painkillers, many of them young. Very few abusers are in treatment. And it won't be easy reversing a history of lax oversight.

Prescription for abuse: Washington tries to get serious

Posted Sun, Jan 22, midnight

By Carol Smith/Investigate West

Responding to concerns about excessive prescribing of drugs, Washington state has new rules in effect. But will it make a difference in a trend that is claiming more lives nationally, including among the young?

As numbers of uninsured rise, health cuts concerns mount

Posted Wed, Jan 11, 2 a.m.

By John Stang

A doctor tells legislators: Yes, the lack of insurance does cause deaths. The lawmakers got an early briefing on declining access to health care, which could worsen with further state budget cuts.

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Bright spot: Washington wins federal award for insuring kids

Posted Thu, Jan 5, 11:30 a.m.

By Judy Lightfoot

Tens of thousands more children have health insurance now, despite the state's having reached the grim milestone of 1 million uninsured residents last year. Washington is also the only Western state to win federal awards in 2011 for both early learning and children's insurance programs.

Tough times call for troubled minds

Posted Thu, Jan 5, 2 a.m.

By Robin Lindley

Psychiatrist Nassir Ghaemi explains why a mentally ill president may be just what we need, and how mania and depression have driven the triumphs and the tragedies of Lincoln, Churchill, Hitler, JFK, MLK, and, maybe, Newt Gingrich.

When will insurers pay for alternative medicine?

Posted Thu, Dec 29, 2 a.m.

By Bill Scott

With instances of painkiller dependency dotting Washington like a case of the chicken pox, when will health care insurers bend to demand for alternative pain treatment options?

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Cutting-edge research is whittled by state

Posted Wed, Nov 30, 2 a.m.

By John Stang

The state's Life Sciences Discovery Fund grew out of the tobacco settlement with big hopes for promoting health and jobs in Washington. But even with employment looking good in the biotechnology area, politicians are pulling back on investment.

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Finding ways to bring our veterans back home

Posted Fri, Nov 11, 2 a.m.

By Judy Lightfoot

Half a year after Gen. Peter Chiarelli told a packed audience at the UW that Seattle must take specific steps to help veterans cope with the lingering trauma of military service, how are we doing?

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The Amanda Knox obsession: all about us

Posted Tue, Oct 18, noon

By Carol Poole

The public and media obsession speaks to a problem in our narcissistic culture. We could wrestle with our issues about violence in a healthier way through serious art.

Swedish-Providence questions remain after Planned Parenthood move

Posted Sun, Oct 16, 9:27 a.m.

By Harris Meyer

Preparing for affiliation with Catholic-based Providence, Swedish Health announced support for a new Planned Parenthood clinic where abortions can be performed. But the move leaves open other questions about the influence of Catholic teaching on end-of-life issues and other ethical debates.

Will Swedish limit choices for women and the dying under Providence deal?

Posted Wed, Oct 12, 2 a.m.

By Harris Meyer

Planned Parenthood, NARAL, and Compassion and Choices are worried that Catholic policies will end up prohibiting some reproductive and end-of-life services for patients when secular Swedish Health Services affiliates with religious Providence.

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Southeast Seattle women want access to healthy food

Posted Fri, Oct 7, 2 a.m.

By Tiffany Ran

Communities of color can tune out messages about a green economy, sensing them as elitist. But they listen when they address their everyday lives, including fresh food and health and their communities.

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More fuel for the protesters: profiteering on health care

Posted Fri, Oct 7, 2 a.m.

By Hubert G. Locke

From what corner of hell did the obscene idea arise that providing health care for humans ought to be a profit-making enterprise?

Hard times bite deep in Washington: who will step up as the state steps away?

Posted Tue, Oct 4, 2 a.m.

By Judy Lightfoot

Gov. Chris Gregoire hopes private charities, faith communities, and individuals can fill the gaps in the social safety net. Can they? What's the likely impact on business when children of poor families grow up? And what are we learning about the newly poor?

Health / Medicine Blog posts

One scene among million Washington residents lacking health insurance

Posted Tue, Dec 20, 2 a.m. 2011

by Judy Lightfoot

As the number of people without coverage rises, hospitals face the surging costs of uncompensated care. Insurance commissioner Mike Kreidler released the disturbing statistics, but the reality can also be seen when a uniformed service member waits with family members for ER care.

Pyramid schemes: the USDA's new food 'plate'

Posted Mon, Jun 6, 12:44 p.m. 2011

by Ronald Holden

Want to judge the usefulness of the government's new replacement for the food pyramid? Just check out how they define protein.

Green Acre Radio: Faith and food go together in multi-ethnic churches' garden efforts

Posted Fri, May 27, 2 a.m. 2011

by Martha Baskin

Some local churches are working together in a project that unites their communities around health, food, and education.

Burning holes in the state's indoor-smoking ban

Posted Mon, May 23, 2:31 p.m. 2011

by Pete Jackson

Lawmakers are considering a special exemption for cigar lounges, eyeing potential revenue but turning a blind eye to the health effects of the legislation.

Robert Whitaker in Seattle to talk about more psychiatric drugs, sicker patients

Posted Mon, May 9, 10:30 a.m. 2011

by Judy Lightfoot

The prize-winning journalist and author of 'Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America' reads Tuesday (May 10) in Seattle.

Green Acre Radio: How Obama helped bring healthy local foods to more people here

Posted Sat, Apr 16, 2 a.m. 2011

by Martha Baskin

Martha Baskin looks at the way a small amount of the Obama administration's stimulus money is helping King County farmers, school kids, and health.

State Senate's budget: strong process, weaker results

Posted Thu, Apr 14, 2 a.m. 2011

by Joe Copeland

Bipartisanship held sway. But the Senate was starting from an unnecessarily bad position.

Budget action: Less than three weeks to go and plenty to worry about

Posted Wed, Apr 6, 2 a.m. 2011

by Joe Copeland

If lawmakers and Gov. Chris Gregoire are going to reach a budget agreement that lets the legislative session end on time, the House Democrats' budget is a key step.