Red Cross fined, weight surgeries differ, Deen has diabetes
Published: January 17, 2021
Your Tuesday morning health headlines:
- FDA fines Red Cross: The Food and Drug Administration has fined the American Red Cross $9.6 million for blood safety lapses caught in inspections in 2010. The FDA and the Red Cross say there’s no evidence anyone was harmed. But the FDA letter on the violations cites poorly trained staff, poor record-keeping and evidence donated blood was mishandled or misplaced. It does not rule out that potentially infected blood was transfused into patients.
- Weight surgeries compared: Gastric bypass surgery results in faster, more sustained weight loss than gastric banding, says a study comparing the two surgeries for morbidly obese patients. Both operations limit the amount of food the stomach can hold.
- Headphone injuries rise: Reports of pedestrians killed or injured while wearing headphones are rising, a new study says. The study, which relied on media reports, can’t prove musical distraction is to blame. Most reported victims are young, urban men.
- Alzheimer’s battle builds: Government health officials and other experts meet today and Wednesday in Washington to shape the first national plan to fight the memory-robbing disease. The fight could be akin to government-backed “wars” on cancer and heart disease — but funding is likely to be a challenge.
Today’s talker: Southern-fried cook Paula Deen confirmed today that she has diabetes and is endorsing a diabetes drug. She also shared her story on the TODAY show. Early reaction from our readers: She’s an inspiration for sharing a common struggle — or she’s a hypocrite for pushing butter-rich foods until a drug company paid her to do otherwise.
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