President Trump has switched up his pick for U.S. Surgeon General, tapping best-selling author and wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means in place of his initial pick, former Fox News contributor Dr. Janette Nesheiwat. Nesheiwat withdrew her nomination following scrutiny over how she had represented her medical credentials.
It's now up to Gov. Ron DeSantis to decide whether to repeal a 35-year-old Florida law that bars adult children and their parents from recovering non-economic damages in wrongful death cases tied to medical negligence. The Senate voted 33-4 late last week to sign off on HB 6017. Senate Judiciary Chair Clay Yarborough, R-Jacksonville, sponsored the companion, SB 734. HB 6017 cleared the House, 104-6, in March.
The modern Western-style diet—high in processed foods, red meat, dairy products, and sugar—alters the composition of the gut microbiome in ways that can have a huge impact on health. This dietary pattern, which is also low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, reduces the variety of microbes in the digestive system and the metabolites they produce. This, in turn, increases risk for several immune system-related conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease.
The Trump administration has terminated a federal advisory committee that issued guidance about preventing the spread of infections in healthcare facilities. The Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) crafted national standards for hand-washing, mask-wearing and isolating sick patients that most U.S. hospitals follow. Four committee members said the CDC delivered the news about HICPAC's termination to members Friday.
More U.S. children have died this flu season than at any time since the swine flu pandemic 15 years ago, according to a federal report. The 216 pediatric deaths reported by the CDC eclipse the 207 reported last year. It's the most since the 2009-2010 H1N1 global flu pandemic. It's a startlingly high number, given that the flu season is still going on. The final pediatric death tally for the 2023-2024 flu season wasn't counted until autumn.