Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Viewpoints: Social Media Is Driving Self-Diagnosis; RFK Jr. Callously Fired All Heat Safety Experts At NIOSH
Psychiatric diagnosis has taken on a new role in public life. Turbocharged by social media, 鈥渢herapy speak鈥 has permeated every corner of today鈥檚 culture. More and more people are diagnosing themselves with mental health and behavioral disorders, whether or not they鈥檝e seen a licensed mental health care provider. In fact, many people are embracing a psychiatric diagnosis as more than a clinical tool. They are using it to explain who they are, define their identities, and find community online. (Victor G. Petreca, 6/6)
We鈥檙e on the verge of what will probably be one of the hottest Northern Hemisphere summers in human history. In early May, the water in the English Channel was already so hot that octopuses invaded it, inspiring Bloomberg News鈥 Joe Wertz to dub this 鈥渉ot octopus summer,鈥 and not in a fun, Megan Thee Stallion way. (Mark Gongloff, 6/6)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has already tarnished his legacy as Health and Human Services secretary with numerous false statements and questionable decisions about vaccines. Last week, he added yet another serious blunder: The federal government, his department announced, will pull more than $760 million committed to developing shots for bird flu. (Leana S. Wen, 6/5)
Behind nearly every prescription filled in America lies a powerful engine of innovation, fueled by the research conducted within the nation鈥檚 universities. Picking up a new prescription at the pharmacy represents the culmination of a decades-long choreography between the private, public, and academic sectors that drives this country鈥檚 medical innovation and ensures the most cutting-edge care and technology are available here.聽(Kevin Gardner and Michael Kinch, 6/6)
Recently, in a significant shift toward accessible, patient-driven health care, the Food and Drug Administration approved the first at-home cervical cancer screening test. This decision supports a growing trend toward decentralizing health services and empowering people to have more control over their health screenings and tests. (Rachell A. Ekroos, 6/6)