(AP) -- When it comes to saving lives, God trumps doctors for many Americans. An eye-opening survey reveals widespread belief that divine intervention can revive dying patients. And, researchers said, doctors "need to be prepared to deal with families who are waiting for a miracle."
Related stories:
UCLA expert blames American values for health-care crisis
To heal our ailing health care system, we need to stop thinking like Americans. That's the message of two articles by UCLA's Dr. Marc Nuwer, a leading expert on national health care reform, published this week in Neurology, the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Zimbabwe declares national health emergency
(AP) -- Zimbabwe declared a national emergency over a cholera epidemic and the collapse of its health care system, and state media reported Thursday the government is seeking more international help to pay for food and drugs to combat the crisis.
Study finds treatment fails to improve common form of heart failure
A medication used for high blood pressure does not improve a common form of heart failure, according to new results from a large, international study.
Firm rises as gluten-free foods thrive
The gluten-free market is getting competitive. A growing number of businesses are selling products aimed at celiacs - people who have difficulty digesting gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye and barley.
Have numbness, pain or muscle weakness? Guidelines identify best tests for neuropathy
New guidelines developed by the American Academy of Neurology find a combination of blood tests and other specialized assessments appear to be the most helpful tests for finding the cause of neuropathy. Also known as neuritis or distal symmetric polyneuropathy, this common nerve problem affects people of all ages. The guidelines are published in the December 3, 2008, online issue of
Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
Study raps Web sites touting stem cell therapies
(AP) -- Consumers should be wary of Web sites from clinics that offer stem cell treatments, says a study that found a lack of firm medical evidence to back up their claims.
Drug marketing techniques may be risking patient safety
With new drugs being reviewed by regulatory agencies and then released onto the market faster than ever before, patients' safety is being compromised, warns a study published on bmj.com today.
Operations engineering for more efficient operating rooms
Work by specialists from the USC Viterbi School of Engineering has led to significant improvements in turnover times for operating rooms at three California safety net hospitals, allowing "many more hours of daytime surgery per year." Because of the success of the program, the work will be expanded to include three more hospitals.
