Ecstasy and PTSD: Who Knew?

Here's what we're reading today:

Avandia: The Wall St. Journal's Alicia Mundy reports that one physician on the FDA advisory panel that recently voted to keep Avandia on the market is a paid speaker for the company that makes the controversial diabetes drug. Conflict of interest? For more on doctors and conflict of interest, check out Antidote blogger William Heisel's work here.

Ecstasy: Insert rave joke here: researchers from the awesomely named Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies in, yes, Santa Cruz, Calif., are reporting some preliminary findings showing that MDMA, better known as the club drug Ecstasy, may ease post-traumatic stress syndrome when combined with therapy.

Tasers: More than 150 U.S. hospitals are trying out Tasers to subdue violent patients or visitors, reports the Washington Post's Leslie Tamura. Is this what it's come to?

Food Czar: Boston has hired its first food policy director to promote access to healthy food and urban farming in the city. Edith Murnane, a former chef, will get involved with school lunches, farmers markets, anti-obesity programs and other food access issues.

Rural Health: The feds are offering $400 million to wire up rural health care providers so they can offer telehealth services – something worth covering if you're based in a rural region. Check out our rural health reporting resources for more ideas and context.