Month: March 2013

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The tragic case of an elderly woman who died after a nurse at her independent living facility refused to perform CPR has prompted the nation's largest assisted living trade group to call for change.

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas (Reuters) – The Republican-controlled Arkansas Senate voted on Tuesday to override a veto by the state’s Democratic governor of a bill that would ban most abortions in the state after 12 weeks of pregnancy, the most severe restriction in the nation. Senators voted 20-14 to override Governor Mike Beebe’s veto. In Arkansas, lawmakers can override a veto by a simple majority vote. The measure would become law if the Republican-controlled state House of Representatives also votes to override the veto. …

(Reuters) – HealthSouth Corp said four of its hospitals received subpoenas from the health regulator seeking information on patient admissions and compliance with Medicare rules. HealthSouth shares fell more than 11 percent to $22.00 on Tuesday after the bell. HealthSouth said in a regulatory filing that the subpoenas were issued by the Miami Lakes, Florida office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and concerned alleged improper or fraudulent claims submitted to Medicare and Medicaid. (http://link.reuters. …

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s death on Tuesday after a two-year fight with cancer sets the stage for an election that will likely pit Vice President Nicolas Maduro against centrist opposition leader Henrique Capriles. Under Venezuela’s constitution, an election should be held within 30 days. Here are some details about the two men: NICOLAS MADURO * A former bus driver and trade unionist with Caracas public transport, the burly and mustachioed Maduro, 50, is a staunch Chavez loyalist chosen by him as the preferred successor. …

CARACAS (Reuters) – Opposition leader Henrique Capriles called for unity among Venezuelans and offered condolences to Hugo Chavez’s family and supporters after the president’s death on Tuesday. “At such a difficult time, we must show our deep love and respect to our Venezuela,” he Tweeted. “My solidarity to all the family and followers of President Hugo Chavez. We appeal for unity among Venezuelans at this time.” (Reporting by Andrew Cawthone; Editing by Sandra Maler)

(Reuters) – The Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday it has postponed a meeting of outside advisers scheduled for March 7 to review a drug developed by GlaxoSmithKline Plc and Theravance Inc for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The agency did not officially give a reason for the postponement but it comes as a major snowstorm bears down on the Northeastern United States, including Washington D.C., where the panelists were due to meet. …

(Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on Tuesday after his battle with cancer, ending the socialist leader’s extraordinary 14-year rule of the OPEC nation. Following is a chronology of the his fight against the disease: JUNE 30, 2011 * A pale-looking Chavez addresses the nation by television from Cuba, where he says doctors operated on him twice to remove a cancerous tumor from his pelvis. JULY 4, 2011 * The president makes a surprise return to Venezuela ahead of the country’s Independence Day celebrations. JULY 17, 2011 * Chavez returns to Cuba to begin chemotherapy. AUG. …

WASHINGTON (AP) — A panel of federal health experts says a long-established bone strengthening drug should no longer be used by women because there is little evidence it works and it may actually increase the risk of cancer.

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuela’s military chiefs appeared live on state TV on Tuesday to pledge their loyalty to Vice President Nicolas Maduro following the death of President Hugo Chavez. Chavez had named Maduro as his preferred successor. (Reporting by Andrew Cawthorne and Girish Gupta; Editing by Sandra Maler)

(Reuters) – A panel of advisers to the Food and Drug Administration recommended on Tuesday that the agency no longer support the marketing of calcitonin salmon as a treatment for osteoporosis in post-menopausal women. The panel voted 12-9 that the benefit of calcitonin salmon products in treating bone-thinning associated with osteoporosis is outweighed by a potential increase in the risk of cancer. Calcitonin salmon is a man-made version of the hormone calcitonin that is found in salmon. …

CARACAS (Reuters) – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died on Tuesday after his battle with cancer, ending the socialist leader’s extraordinary 14-year rule of the OPEC nation. Here are some key facts about Chavez: * Born to a poor family in Venezuela’s plains, or “llanos,” on July 28, 1954, Chavez once aspired to be a painter and then a professional baseball player in the U.S. Major Leagues. * His impoverished but happy childhood in rural Venezuela often were fodder for the folksy anecdotes he used when talking about politics. …

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Electronic alerts and other technology-based aids may help prevent costly missed or delayed diagnoses, according to a new review of past evidence. “I think there’s a general feeling that we’re probably going to need multiple strategies,” said Dr. David Newman-Toker, who studies diagnostic errors at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore but was not involved in the study. …