risk

The US delivered its preparedness plan for an outbreak of human-to-human avian flu to an international summit of health leaders in Geneva, which was well attended by governments, health organizations and pharmaceutical companies. The plan stresses early detection and increased international transparency in countries at risk of outbreaks. Meanwhile, Vietnam reported another confirmed human death from the virus.

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Supporters of a controversial at-home HIV test told an FDA panel this week that the benefits of the new technology would probably outweigh the risk that users might overreact to a positive result. If the FDA approves the OraQuick test, the product would become the first over the counter test on the market that produces results quickly--generally within 20 minutes. OraSure Technologies argues that faster results would mean earlier treatment for people with HIV and might substantially cut …

Boston Scientific warned this morning that sales of its formerly best-selling Taxus stent are likely to fall below expectations, and the company admitted it is unlikely to match its earnings estimates for the third quarter. The news follows directly on the heels of a series of reports on the effectiveness of leading stent brands delivered at this week's meeting of the European Conference of Cardiology. One study, due to be published next week in the Lancet, finds that stents made …

The AMA released details of its annual member survey of medical students and residents. The organization has argued for years that the long hours worked by doctors-in-training can put patients at risk. Residents who took part in the survey said they work 68 hours per week on average. Over eighty percent reported having been so tired "they have been in a car accident or near accident." Many of those surveyed said they feel uncomfortable reporting rules violations, for fear of causing their hospitals accreditation problems.

- see the study from the AMA