> Someone stole a laptop with the names and social security numbers of thousands of obstetrics patients from an Allina Health System nurse. Article

> United Healthcare's Dr. Bill McGuire didn't just get favorably-timed options, he may have also gotten the same options twice, a Wall Street Journal article suggests. Article (WSJ sub. req.)

> Meanwhile, United Health Group is doing just fine, posting a 38 percent growth in profits for the third quarter. Article

> Sun Healthcare Group has agreed to acquire long-term care firm Harborside Healthcare for $350 million. Article

> New studies are underway that may help researchers find the fountain of youth. What's important about current anti-aging research, however, isn't just the effort to increase a person's life span: The aim is to improve the quality of those additional years. Report

And Finally... In Malaysia, a consumer questions whether private healthcare services should be allowed to compete vigorously with government providers. Letter