ALSO NOTED: NY hospital being investigated over deaths; New Jersey hospitals struggling; and much more...

> A Long Island, N.Y. hospital is being investigated over the questionable deaths of four patients, including a woman who had an unnecessary mastectomy and died due to surgical complications. Article [1]

> The story of two financially-stressed New Jersey hospitals gives a troubling picture of the state's struggling hospital system. Article [2]

> With the city of San Francisco making steep budget cuts, its public hospital may be forced to delay some surgeries. Article [3]

> HealthPartners and the SEIU have managed to avoid a strike that would have stopped work for 1,500 non-physician employees. Article [4]

> A Medicare official says there's an even better case now for restricting payments for Amgen and Johnson & Johnson's big anemia drugs. According to the agency's chief medical officer, two more studies have cast doubt on the safety of Aranesp, Epogen, and Procrit, which together generated more than $5 billion in sales in 2007. The drugs are one of the biggest prescription costs for Medicare. Report [5]

> The watchdogs are circling direct-to-consumer drug commercials. Report [6]

And Finally... When doctors become patients, does it make them better at what they do? Article [7]