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Life Sciences Blueprint To Build A Strong And Healthy Future For Britain
A new Blueprint to put innovation at the heart of healthcare delivery was launched by Lord Drayson and Lord Darzi at Imperial College London.
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Health Subcommittee Considers Bill To Eliminate Pre-Emption For Medical Devices
The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Tuesday heard testimony on the Medical Device Safety Act of 2009 (HR 1346), which would allow consumers to sue medical device manufacturers in state courts, CQ HealthBeat reports. The bill responds to last year"s Supreme Court ruling that says medical devices with FDA pre-marketing approval can be pre-empted from lawsuits under state law, in accordance with the Medical Device Amendments of 1976. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.Y.), who introduced the bill, said that the 2008 Supreme Court ruling "ignor[ed] congressional intent" by providing blanket immunity for medical device makers. According to Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), a co-sponsor of the bill, the original 1976 law sought to grant regulatory authority to FDA for medical devices, but it did not aim to eliminate state liability. Committee Chair Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), another co-sponsor, said last year"s ruling already has caused 1,400 injury cases to be thrown out of court, adding that the threat of litigation provides manufacturers with additional safety incentives. David Vladeck -- a law professor at Georgetown University Law Center who testified at the hearing -- added that immunity from lawsuits "removes incentive to manufacturers to fix devices quickly and get defective devices off the market."Rep. Nathan Deal (R-Ga.) said the class of device that must obtain pre-marketing approval -- which includes pacemakers and replacement heart valves -- represents only 2% of all approved medical devices each year. Rep. Michael Burgess (R-Texas) added that the measure could create an inconsistent system that allows both FDA experts and jurors in various states to make decisions on medical device safety standards. In addition, Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.) cautioned that the bill might encourage manufacturers to limit distribution of their devices to certain states (Kim, CQ HealthBeat, 5/13). Related Editorial
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Drug Crimes In Canada Cause Continuing Problems For Small Communities
The Narconon drug rehab program has noticed a trend of many drug addicts being involved with drug related charges due to their addiction. "You can have the everyday functioning addict who is battling a drug addiction, and just one day gets caught by police for possession of a small amount," comments Nick Hayes, a representative of Narconon Trois-Rivieres. "This is an all too common situation for many people who are involved in a drug addiction." More people are using illicit drugs in Canada, in fact Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, where the Narconon drug rehab program is located, is one of the leading cities in Canada for drug crimes. "There are so many youth in Trois-Rivieres who are addicted to different drugs like speed, ecstasy, marijuana, and even cocaine. These teens get caught up with the law and start heading down the wrong path at a very young age," says Nick.
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Somerset's Midwives Can Now Offer Women A New Early Pregnancy Support Service, UK

Women in Somerset now have a new of expert information and advice available to them as soon as they know they are pregnant. After missing a monthly period, and possibly testing with a home pregnancy kit, the first step for many women is to visit their GP. Getting proper health advice and information as soon your pregnancy is confirmed can increase the likelihood of your pregnancy and baby"s birth being a safe and happy one and now Somerset women now have a choice. You can ask your practice to make an appointment for you to be seen directly by a midwife or you can choose to see your GP first if you wish. The practice can arrange for you to be seen directly by a community or team midwife who will... - Discuss your medical history. This is important, especially if you suffer from a condition such as diabetes or epilepsy, where some changes may need to be made to medication. - Discuss any previous pregnancy complications that might mean you need a scan. This could be a previous history of an ectopic pregnancy, a genetic disorder or Downs syndrome. - Check your blood pressure. - Give you information on maternity services in your area so that you can decide where to give birth to have your baby. - Ensure you are taking folic acid if you aren"t already doing so. - Help you to eat healthily and avoid anything that might be harmful in pregnancy Lucy Watson, Deputy Director of Nursing and Patient Safety said: "When women find they are pregnant they need as much help and advice as possible. Community midwives are a wonderful of information and expectant and young mums should try to visit one as early as possible. "Midwives are trained professionals and help many hundreds of women and babies each year. They are aware of the issues and anxieties that mums-to-be experience through the various stages of their pregnancy and know exactly how to help the baby develop normally and go on to have a safe delivery", said Ms Watson. NHS Somerset


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