ALSO NOTED: Guidant stents OK for carotid artery; MedBlogger doubts Herceptin claims; and much more...

> The Department of Veterans Affairs bowed to pressure from Congress and awarded full control over the agency's $2.1 billion IT budget to its CIO. That makes current CIO Robert McFarland a fairly influential dude. Article

> A rare shot in the arm for Guidant as regulators reportedly weigh approving Medicare coverage for carotid stents, a development which is seen as potentially good news for the company. Article

> Inequalities in the US healthcare system lead to 84,000 extra deaths a year, writes the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's David Atkins. Article

> Nursing homes aren't generally thought of as exciting places. That's not what Wall Street is saying today. Manor Care recorded a third-quarter profit of $50.2 million. Article

> Is the talk about Herceptin as the latest wonder drug justified? Blogger Sydney Smith at Medpundit offers some sage words on the matter. Article

> In Europe, critics are calling for calm as public anxiety about H5N1 reaches new levels. And yes, in case you were wondering, sales of chicken at grocery stores and restaurants have fallen dramatically. Article

> Details are emerging on the compromise agreement reached between General Motors and the United Auto Workers. Article

And Finally... Call the networks. Or just go read the story of the blind (well,  visually impaired, actually) brain surgeon yourself and have a nice weekend. Article