Ob-Gyns: Some Turning Away Overweight Women as Patients

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May 17, 2011

California: Health providers and advocates are still trying to figure out the complex health policy changes in Gov. Jerry Brown's "May revise" revised California budget. The proposed changes include closing nine health-related boards or commissions and moving some children with subsidized health insurance to another plan where they may face problems accessing health care, reports David Gorn for California Healthline.

pregnancy, overweight, reporting on health, health journalismWomen's Health: In a disturbing trend, some ob-gyns in South Florida are turning down overweight or obese women as patients before they are even pregnant because of liability concerns and fears of medical complications, Bob LaMendola reports for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. (Hat tip: FairWarning)

Medicare: A surprising study of 46 million Medicare patients finds that rural seniors are more likely than their urban counterparts  to have any of nine common surgeries including knee replacements, suggesting that rural health access may be better than thought – although some experts disagree, Lindsey Tanner reports for the Associated Press.

Mental Health: Morgellons patients have long asked for more medical studies of their controversial disease, but they may not like the results of this one: researchers found no infestation in skin biopsies from patients who complained of incessant itching they believe is from parasites or bugs. The disease is psychological, the researchers concluded, Melissa Healy reports for the Los Angeles Times.

Post-Mortem: Autopsies to reveal cause of death in hospital patients are becoming more rare, Michelle Andrews reports for the Washington Post. 

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