Company that made millions of defective sleep apnea machines ordered to overhaul manufacturing

Company that made millions of defective sleep apnea machines ordered to overhaul manufacturing

WASHINGTON — The company responsible for a global recall of sleep apnea machines will be barred from resuming production at U.S. facilities until it meets a number of safety requirements, under a long-awaited settlement announced Tuesday by federal officials. Philips will be required to overhaul its manufacturing and quality control systems and hire independent experts … Read more

AP Exclusive: EPA didn’t declare a public health emergency after fiery Ohio derailment

AP Exclusive: EPA didn’t declare a public health emergency after fiery Ohio derailment

The aftermath of last year’s fiery train derailment in eastern Ohio doesn’t qualify as a public health emergency because widespread health problems and ongoing chemical exposures haven’t been documented, federal officials said. The Environmental Protection Agency never approved that designation after the February 2023 Norfolk Southern derailment even though the disaster forced the evacuation of … Read more

Hospitals must obtain written consent for pelvic and similar exams, the federal government says

Hospitals must obtain written consent for pelvic and similar exams, the federal government says

Hospitals must obtain written informed consent from patients before subjecting them to pelvic exams and exams of other sensitive areas — especially if an exam will be done while the patient is unconscious, the federal government said Monday. New guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services now requires consent for breast, pelvic, … Read more

Lawsuit seeks to force ban on menthol cigarettes after months of delays by Biden administration

Lawsuit seeks to force ban on menthol cigarettes after months of delays by Biden administration

WASHINGTON — Anti-smoking groups sued the U.S. government Tuesday over a long-awaited ban on menthol cigarettes, which has been idling at the White House for months. The lawsuit is the latest effort to force the government to ban menthols, which are disproportionately used by Black smokers and young people. It comes amid growing concerns from … Read more

Wyoming governor vetoes bill to allow concealed carry in public schools and meetings

Wyoming governor vetoes bill to allow concealed carry in public schools and meetings

CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Wyoming Republican Gov. Mark Gordon has vetoed a bill that would have allowed people to carry concealed guns in public schools and government meetings. In his veto letter Friday night, Gordon said he had concerns the bill would exceed the separation of powers provision in the state constitution since any policy, further … Read more

Biden is issuing a budget plan that details his vision for a second term

Biden is issuing a budget plan that details his vision for a second term

WASHINGTON — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is issuing a budget plan Monday aimed at getting voters’ attention: tax breaks for families, lower health care costs, smaller deficits and higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations. Unlikely to pass the House and Senate to become law, the proposal for fiscal 2025 is an election-year … Read more

FDA will take a deeper look into the safety and effectiveness of Lilly experimental Alzheimer’s drug

FDA will take a deeper look into the safety and effectiveness of Lilly experimental Alzheimer’s drug

INDIANAPOLIS — Federal regulators put off a decision on whether to approve an Eli Lilly Alzheimer’s drug by making an unusual request to have outside advisers look at the treatment. Lilly had expected the Food and Drug Administration to decide on donanemab’s approval by the end of the month. But the drugmaker said Friday that … Read more

Maker of much-debated ALS drug says it may stop selling it after study showed it didn’t work

Maker of much-debated ALS drug says it may stop selling it after study showed it didn’t work

WASHINGTON — The maker of a much-debated drug for Lou Gehrig’s disease said Friday its therapy failed to help patients in a large follow-up study, but stopped short of committing to follow through on a prior pledge to pull the drug from the U.S. market. The Food and Drug Administration approved Amylyx Pharmaceuticals’ Relyvrio in … Read more

Lead-tainted cinnamon has been recalled. Here’s what you should know

Lead-tainted cinnamon has been recalled. Here’s what you should know

Several U.S. discount retailers recalled packages of ground cinnamon after federal health officials warned that they were contaminated with high levels of lead. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a safety alert for six brands of cinnamon, including those sold at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores. The move followed massive recalls last fall … Read more

Ground cinnamon sold at discount stores is tainted with lead, FDA warns

Ground cinnamon sold at discount stores is tainted with lead, FDA warns

Ground cinnamon sold by U.S. discount retailers is contaminated with high levels of lead and should be discarded, federal health officials said Wednesday. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said cinnamon sold by stores including the Dollar Tree and Family Dollar contains lead at levels that could be unsafe for people, particularly children, with prolonged … Read more