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You probably already knew that when you flush the toilet with the lid open, a great big cloud of bacteria shoots up into the air like a mushroom cloud of poo germs. But did you know that if you leave the lid open even when the toilet is just hanging out and not being shat in, you're exposing all nearby surfaces to a veritable cloud of toilet bacteria that might be causing other people to catch a disease? A disease that makes them throw up? More »
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New mothers interested in long term birth control typically have two options after giving birth. One is completely reversible and renewable every 5 to 10 years, the other is permanent, more expensive, and difficult to reverse. It seems that, for women in a position to choose, the . Why, then, do so many women opt for permanent tubal litigation rather than IUD's? More »
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Last year, dozens of women who had been treated at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas opened their mail and found a letter that read, "We would like to let you know that you may have been exposed to a speculum that may not have been properly sterilized." Two days later, another letter informed them "there is one additional piece of information that we need to tell you": they should abstain from sex or use condoms to prevent infecting their partner. Then a third letter told another group of women that instruments used during their baby's delivery may not have been cleaned properly. More »
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The CDC is telling hospitals to step up their breastfeeding support. Apparently only four percent of hospitals are doing enough, which the CDC says would include allowing "rooming in" (babies can sleep with moms), providing follow-up support, and avoiding formula feeding unless medically necessary. The AAP lists numerous health benefits to both mothers and babies; this is, of course, controversial. More »
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And no, it's not because of the rapture. More »
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Videocameras and even cell phone cameras are forbidden in some delivery rooms. Supposedly they violate the staff's rights and create a "media circus." Hospitals probably won't mention their other concern: Recordings are being entered as evidence in medical malpractice suits. More »
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Thanks to new regulations going into effect today, any hospital participating in Medicare and Medicaid must allow visitors of patients' choosing, whether or not they're married or related. The upshot is that gay couples cannot be denied visitation rights. More »
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Upon arriving at the Milton Keynes Hospital, an unnamed pregnant woman immediately requested an all-white staff for the delivery of her child. Her request was denied, but hospital officials are launching a "full investigation" into the incident. [Independent] More »
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Today in gender studies: the NY Times reports that men are more loyal to hospitals than individual doctors, meaning "female self-identity centers on close individual relationships, and male self-identity centers on less intimate group relationships." Also, ladies love hairdressers. [NYT] More »
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When Janice Langbehn's partner of 18 years suffered an aneurysm, Langbehn and their children were not allowed to visit her in the hospital. Now the case is the subject of a lawsuit with major implications. More »
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Sad news: Remember that baby red panda that was adopted by a domestic cat and her four kittens? The panda died, apparently after choking on milk. • Russia's booming economy (combined with weak borders and no laws for victim's rights) means more sex slaves and human trafficking. • An Army training plan to shoot live pigs and treat their wounds to teach medics how to treat wounded soldiers has angered PETA. • A woman with a previous charge of plotting to steal another woman's infant claims to have bought a baby for $1,000 from an unknown woman. More »
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