Was just browsing another sub and came up on this post about housing homeless people

https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/1ifn6md/why_is_the_solution_to_homelessness_not_just/

it reminded me of a patient of mine who was a meth addict who always came in after being found down on the street (plus a bunch of other medical issues related to drug use and medication noncompliace that we always ended up dealing with). After a while, he got housing where he had a room to stay by himself. Very soon afterwards, he died at home (likely from the same reasons he was found down on the other occasions), but this time no one was there to find him.

It was ironic that giving housing to this person prevented him from getting the medical attention he used to get when he was homeless.

Just when you think this administration couldn't get any more horrible or absurd when it comes to science & healthcare, Jeremy Faust has just posted the following claim over on his substack, Inside Medicine (https://insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-news-cdc-orders-mass-retraction?r=5p3cr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true):

"...The CDC has instructed its scientists to retract or pause the publication of any research manuscript being considered by any medical or scientific journal, not merely its own internal periodicals, Inside Medicine has learned. The move aims to ensure that no “forbidden terms” appear in the work. The policy includes manuscripts that are in the revision stages at journal (but not officially accepted) and those already accepted for publication but not yet live.

In the order, CDC researchers were instructed to remove references to or mentions of a list of forbidden terms: “Gender, transgender, pregnant person, pregnant people, LGBT, transsexual, non-binary, nonbinary, assigned male at birth, assigned female at birth, biologically male, biologically female,” according to an email sent to CDC employees."

How long until Trump's NIH scrubs papers or entire journals from PubMed because they contradict his "anti-woke" agenda?

CNN article regarding announcement of tariffs:

https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-tariff-presidency-news-02-01-25/index.html ("live" article, ref heading "Trump signs new tariffs on 3 biggest US trade partners")

"White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previewed the tariffs during a Friday briefing for reporters — saying they would amount to a 25% duty on Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on China “for illegal fentanyl they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans.”

I have just about had it. The press secretary for the United States of America just claimed "illegal fentanyl" has killed about as many people as TWO HOLOCAUSTS. "Tens of millions" is at least 20 million. So, how many people has it actually killed? See for yourself, but it's off by about a factor of 50x.

https://nida.nih.gov/sites/default/files/images/fig2-2024.jpg

This is blatant, explicit dissemination of WILDLY false public health information like I've never seen before in my lifetime.

Since so much about public health is under attack in the US right now, I just want to shine a quick spotlight on Newborn Screenings! Today I admitted a baby whose life was probably saved by the NBS. It detected a condition for which he had no symptoms, and the NBS folks were able to collaborate with doctors to contact the family, get the baby into the hospital, and already on proper management for the condition. The baby had no clinical symptoms but labwork was very clear that this baby would have become critically ill at any moment had he not been admitted. Without the Newborn Screening and public health providers, this baby would not have been brought to a hospital until he was possibly past the point of saving. So, thanks everyone who works to make these systems function, and fuck you to anyone trying to interfere (at a local, state, or federal level). If this isn't allowed here, apologies!

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2025-01-30/sen-bill-cassidy-grapples-with-gop-loyalty-and-medical-views-in-hearing-with-rfk-jr

Sen. Cassidy, a gastroenterologist Republican senator representing Louisiana who also voted to convict Trump in 2021 but up for election 2026, could turn out to be the swing vote for RFK Jr.'s confirmation. The Louisiana GOP want Cassidy to vote for RFK Jr, but Cassidy also gets a lot of calls highlighting his physician background to not confirm RFK Jr, especially.

The AAFP leadership clearly voted for Trump, and that fact in isolation is not the biggest issue. The biggest issue is that they are silent on the attacks on public health this administration has launched in just one short week, opting instead to opine that executive actions are normal and every president does them and they will be overturned if inappropriate. No condemnation of the removal of cdc clinical practice guidelines for hiv and sti treatment/ prevention and call to restore this data. No call to preserve accuracy in publications in the service of ideology. Removing any mention of transgender people when they clearly exist is gender ideology. No condemnation of the disruption to federally funded health services and research. No condemnation of suppressing federal research that was previously available. The AAFP is signaling to the White House that it is perfectly acceptable to censor scientific data and medical literature, that politics and ideology trump reason and facts. I might not renew my membership.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued a warning about a backdoor embedded in the firmware of the Contec CMS8000, a patient monitor used in U.S. healthcare facilities.

The Contec CMS8000 is manufactured by Contec Medical Systems, a China-based company supplying medical devices to hospitals and clinics worldwide, including the U.S. and the European Union. The device continuously monitors key patient vitals such as electrocardiograms, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and blood pressure.

https://cyberinsider.com/contec-monitors-used-in-u-s-hospitals-carry-chinese-backdoor/

(Excuse me, NOT Scientology, the Citizens Commision on Human Rights, in case anyone is feeling litigious.)

Strolling through Hollywood on a beautiful day, I decided to check out the "Psychiatry: An Industry of Death Museum." I was greeted by some wonderfully solicitous docents who informed me that I may tour the exhibit for 5 minutes or several hours if I liked. They insisted I give my name, which I didn't, and before I stepped inside I asked to make sure I wasn't waiving anybody of anything. (There were warnings of graphic content.) Finally I entered...

First was a padded cell with a TV. The docent informed me several of the TVs had stopped working since the fires, so we'd skip this room.

Exhibited in the next room was the evolution of psychology, with special attention to its dark underbelly, from medieval torture to early Modern developments like the straight jacket and tranquilizer chair. Critical quotes from early pioneers like Wilhelm Wundt peppered the room, which I admit was my favorite in the tour.

The next room focused on psychopharmacology and the billions made by Xanax and Prozac and the like, implying a problematic relationship between Big Pharma and mental health treatment. There were cute retro ads for Adderall and Lexapro. I don't really have any notes at this point, but then things get problematic in the next room.

Boom we're full on in the Holocaust. There's a lot going on and I'm trying to tease out a solid connection, but all the jarring photographs make it hard to pay attention to the text arguments. Something about Hitler and undesirables. I rushed to the Gulag, feeling similarly that things had gone 0 to 100 real quick.

The next rooms are sort of a blur of all the troubles of humanity (school shootings, celebrity overdoses) interspersed with modern mummies for some reason. At one point I saw another person on the tour and I said hi. It was weird.

Finally there's a room on pseudoscience but I'm pretty drained by the last 10 minutes so I make for a quick exit but am intercepted. I let slip that I'm a nurse to which is replied "Oh we get more nurses than anyone in here." 🤦‍♂️ I bid my farewell.

Overall an interesting experience. Obviously it's pretty propagandistic to juxtapose the history of psychiatry with, you know, ALL THAT. I realized about halfway through that they don't want people to seek treatment for their problems, they want them to seek out the Organization. The docents were pleasantly trepidatious. The S-word was never mentioned. I probably shouldn't have hit the vape pen so hard before going in.

2/5 stars

I’m a 2nd-year MD/MPH student, and I just got an email from my epidemiology professor saying we’ll be using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) datasets for an upcoming project. However, it was then followed up by a distressed email stating the data is now unavailable. This data, and other datasets, are being scrubbed from the CDC and other government websites right now.

This is a huge issue for public health research and education, and it's happening at a time when access to this kind of data is more critical than ever. Some folks, like /u/veryconsciouswater, are working to upload what they have to the Internet Archive, but this data shouldn’t be disappearing in the first place.

I wanted to flag this to the community because it could have major implications for research, education, and transparency in the public health field. If you're relying on this data, or if this is something that concerns you, please be aware of what's going on.

Do what you can to preserve as much as possible!

Edit #1 (1/31/2025): /r/publichealth and /r/DataHoarder subreddits are currently trying to archive things. If you have anything, please share!

Edit #2 (2/1/2025): Some people wanted more specifics and an ELI5.

● ELI5: The CDC used to have a bunch of data that scientists and doctors could look at to study diseases, like COVID-19, vaccines, and deaths. But recently, they removed or changed some of these datasets, making them harder to find or use.

Think of it like a big library where people go to read books about health. Public health professionals could correlate data between these 'books' to study trends, look at patterns, etc. This can guide future studies, policy decisions, and lets people know what is currently going on with population health.

For me, a student, I used to be able to download datasets in basically a large spreadsheet. I could then use statical software, like SAS or R, to look at data trends, make graphs, find p-values, odd ratios, etc. And now I can't.

These are the datasets that were publicly or semi-publicly available. I don't think anyone knows what is happening with the non-public data that the CDC and health departments collect.

● Specifics: Some examples of now missing datasets include (on mobile so hyperlinking these are hard, but they're a google away):

• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) CDC Data (website is down). BRFSS websites for some state websites are still up, but the data won't download. --- A nationwide survey that tracks health behaviors, chronic diseases, and preventive care use among adults.

• Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) (gives a "webpage not found error") --- A survey that monitors health behaviors in high school students, including drug use, mental health, and sexual health.

• Social Vulnerability Index (website is down) --- A tool used to identify communities most at risk from disasters, disease outbreaks, and other public health threats.

• Environmental Justice Index (website is down) --- A dataset that helps measure how environmental hazards disproportionately impact different communities, especially marginalized populations.

● Not datasets per se, but still valuable on a public health level that is going missing:

• Atlas Plus Tool (website is down) --- A platform providing data on HIV, viral hepatitis, STDs, and tuberculosis, with detailed information on various demographics, including LGBTQ+ populations

• Current STI Treatment Guidelines for medical providers --- A guideline that provided medical providers with up-to-date information on how to treat STIs.

• Numerous LGBTQ+ related webpages on federal websites are being scrubbed. Too many to link.

Final Edit (2/1/2025): Link to the data is ready Here!

I swear I am seeing this new trend of women ages 16-30 who are having multiple syncope episodes, legitimate tachycardia with standing, and all sorts of weird symptoms. I never see older women with these issues. Just younger women. Do we think there’s an anxiety component? Honestly I’m baffled by this trend and don’t know how to explain it. Anyone seeing similar stuff?

Apparently a medical transport plane crashed in Philadelphia.

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/philadelphia/news/plane-crash-cottman-roosevelet/

What would be the consequences of bad ACGME survey results for a new program that previously has scored a little above the national average consistently? Would there be a difference in consequences in, for example, being 10% below the national mean vs 40% in a majority of categories? Would one survey trigger an investigation if bad enough? Would anything happen to the PD if the low survey results were solely due to the PD?

I'm an attending in my second year of practice. . Recently had to deal with a complication with eventhough the surgery went on well .i do realise sometimes it's not in my hands , but I feel guilty and I've developed insomnia and feel stressed about future surgical outcomes and I'm constantly ruminating about it. . Does this feeling ever get better ? This honestly seems even worse than in residency.

https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/01/31/nx-s1-5282274/trump-administration-purges-health-websites

First episode thoughts:

I’m sorry, that EKG tracing did not show hyperkalemia. I went back 12 times and paused it. If you’re going to describe a widened QRS and a peaked T in the dialogue then show it in the EKG tracing. I was thinking rhabdo with hyper K after the history but with the EKG ruled it out and was thinking hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and SCD, then Dr Carter with a beard comes in and pushes calcium gluconate? Similarly I noticed they called Vfib Vtach at one point. Also, why are you giving epi in a vfib arrest?

I was impressed they got the clotting factors in PCC correct though.

There’s probably more, but I’m high on Nyquill. My final review of episode 1 is that it was quite entertaining while medicated.

https://longisland.news12.com/new-york-doctor-indicted-for-prescribing-abortion-pill-in-louisiana?fbclid=IwY2xjawIKIHNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHWAmxfwtho4Oquoy9vLpkf2Px8ecQ239znh9xjT4_PU7mBH-iYSdF2_kgQ_aem_1wGXUuqg8Y8EAGW32Oo-rw

Unbelievable.

Shockingly, the CDC pages that provide guidance to providers for STI treatment and contraception are no longer active. And I am hearing that the associated mobile apps are no longer functioning. These are resources used heavily by primary care, women's health, and OB care providers everywhere. Obviously the info is available through other sources, but making it harder to find will surely harm patients. Hopefully this is temporary and not representative of a long term policy choice, but I am not holding my breath.

OB/GYN groups have noted that the CDC STI app as well as the website STI & MEC guidelines for birth control are down.

I can’t get my STI app to work.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMclde2407983

Reading this NEJM article, it says roughly half of pediatric practices in the United States have a policy of not accepting patients whose parents refuse vaccines in the infant series.

This surprises me as it never crossed my mind even at the height of COVID pandemic that I can have a discussion whether we can refuse to see certain patients. I always thought that we see all patients, regardless of who they are.

When I'm reading this article from the Peds perspective, I'm wondering from adults' perspective, can we, either myself, my practice, my hospital, or my specialty, have a similar policy refusing to see certain patients?

Edit to add: If it is possible, why not we see more adult clinic refusing unvaccinated patients? Personally never heard of one.

Question for physicians: are you aware of the “Index” under the Chart Summary that houses under the “Quality” section the “Patient and Secure Chat History”?

You know, the one that has a log of EVERY “secure” chat ever between everyone about each patient?

When entering admit orders into EMR (epic) does the reason for admission (eg: COPD exacerbation) have any QI, billing, insurance implications or is it simply a placeholder.

Just wanted to let you know that the Chief of Staff for the swing vote senator's email is an easy google search, since it appears Senator Bill Cassidy / Dr. Bill Cassidy's website is down.

Search for the name first (bill cassidy chief of staff), then once you have the name, add the name and "email" to your search string

Whatever you write, for or against, include your credentials if you are NOT a Louisiana state resident.

Include your address if you are.

EDIT: another person has posted the email address in the comments, I was more concerned this post wouldn’t last had I done that. Thx

PS: follow AltCDC on BlueSky, and if you have urgent health updates to share try our friends up north https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/corporate/contact-us.html

How does one differentiate? I have been trying to figure it out and online sources have been incredibly unhelpful/Im clearly not searching the right sources.

My gripe is anything describing a Latent TB infection says this can be diagnosed with a positive skin and/or blood test for TB, despite normal radiographs/other blood tests and no other symptoms/big history points (no travel abroad, no workplace hazard, no TB vaccine hx)

Providers, is this just up to your discretion? How do you differentiate? If a person has a + skin test but - blood test, is that still indication to treat a latent infection? I read too there are other causes of false positives aside from the TB vaccine, but there has SURELY got to be a way to confirm false positive vs a latent infection? Seems like a pretty big thing to just guess/assume.

https://www.wbay.com/2025/01/22/wisconsin-family-sues-over-sons-fatal-asthma-attack-blames-rising-cost-inhaler/

22 year old told by pharmacy his asthma inhaler was no longer covered and he could not afford the $540 cash price. He died from an asthma attack a few days later. Family is suing both Walgreens and Optum. “The conduct of both OptumRx and Walgreens was deplorable. The evidence in this case will show that both OptumRx and Walgreens put profits first, and are directly responsible for Cole’s death.”

While I would love to see PBMs sued successfully for this I doubt this stands a chance in hell in getting a plaintiffs verdict. Insurers have a way of sliming out of responsibility of these things. I am sure settlements are just a cost of doing business for them. Another American dead because of issues with the system.

Hi, all-

I have moved around a little and done some telemedicine so have several state medical licenses. I understand that we should generally move these licenses to inactive status rather than allow them to lapse by non-renewal because re-applying is a pain and (I think) doing this can be a credentialing issue.

But is the same true of individual state DEA certification or can we safely let those lapse if we’re either not prescribing controlled substances or no longer practice in a particular state? If it matters I will still have other active DEA numbers in other states.

Thanks

Looks like they're shifting costs from the pt to the employer.

A gift link to avoid the paywall.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-01-29/cigna-plans-to-limit-out-of-pocket-drug-costs-for-us-patients?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTczODI1NzAwMiwiZXhwIjoxNzM4ODYxODAyLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJTUVVQR05EV1JHRzAwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiIzMEU2RkFDMDEwN0I0M0E0OEU3MDQ5NjIzQkFCQzBFOSJ9.BcPq8XncFzrXT2GzbD18WMNNFdtxQjb8W8YNf3pdXIc

Hi everyone,

I’m a current fellow and was wondering if you guys know of any international rotations or places I could reach out to about doing an elective to learn more about managing malignancies in other countries. Would be very cool since we have more elective time later on in fellowship

TIA!

I'm curious to see what people think and recommend.

I'm an oculoplastic surgeon and I will occasionally get referrals from PCPs for temporal arteritis. It's very common by the time they are referred to me they are already started on steroids, which now pushes me on to a two week timeline to do the surgery. A lot of these patients are very low risk for temporal arteritis to begin with but since the treatment and plan has already been initiated I feel stuck following through on proceeding with unnecessary surgery.

I understand temporal arteritis can be a scary diagnosis but of 100 temporal headaches it's probably positive in 1 of them. I see steroids initiated before labs have even returned and they often come back normal which muddies the picture since treatment was already initiated. Then I also see people initiate treatment when labs are all negative.

I know that TA can be a clinical diagnosis and not necessary rely on labs but I'm seeing consults for nothing more than temporal headache without any other systemic symptoms.

Curious to hear from general medicine people what they think about this and what they might recommend I do to decrease the amount of inappropriate surgical consults. As I said once they hit my clinic is very hard to back track from the treatment plan.

It would be super ironic if in private rfk loves evidence based medicine for himself, and his fugaze brand of idiocracy style medicine is all for show? That would be super ironic if he’s gotten every vaccine and get the upmost updated, evidence based care. also, “welcome to Costco. I love you”