EPA Blocked From Human Pesticide Studies
The Associated Press
The Senate voted to block the Environmental Protection Agency from using studies that intentionally expose people to pesticides when considering permits for pest killers. The Bush administration lifted a partial moratorium imposed in 1998 by the Clinton administration on using human testing for pesticide approvals.

Plan To Fill Vacancies With Foreign Nursing
MSNBC
Capital University and OhioHealth are taking a step toward easing Central Ohio's nursing shortage without causing long-term pain for the world's developing countries. With an eye toward socially responsible recruitment of foreign nurses, the two are working with Cincinnati-based Global Scholarship Alliance to help 10 students from the Philippines study for master's degrees in nursing at Capital.

UC Nurses Voting On Contract Proposal
Voting Results To Be Announced July 8
KCRA-TV
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Thousands of nurses at medical and health centers run by the University of California have begun holding votes on a two-year contract proposed by the university. The California Nurses Association, which represents the nurses, has asked union members to authorize a one-day strike if the contract is rejected.

Epilepsy, Bipolar Drugs Carry Birth Defect Risks
HealthCentral.com
Experts are repeating their warning that the use during pregnancy of common anticonvulsants -- especially phenobarbitol and valproate -- has been linked to an increased risk of severe birth defects. But because millions of American women rely on these drugs to control serious conditions such as bipolar disorder and epilepsy, the experts also stressed that no woman should stop or change any anticonvulsant without first consulting her doctor.

Nursing Shortage Affects University Students
The South End
Michigan’s health care professionals are facing a critical nursing shortage because prospective nurses are not being accepted into nursing programs. Wayne State University nursing program is being adversely affected by this shortage, but is powerless to do much about it. This year, the College of Nursing will only accept between 120-128 nursing students out of 1,200 applicants.

Teflon Cancer Risks Downplayed
The Associated Press
DOVER, Del. -- A controversial chemical used by DuPont to make the nonstick substance Teflon poses more of a cancer risk than indicated in a draft assessment by the Environmental Protection Agency, an independent review board has found. The EPA stated earlier this year that its draft risk assessment of perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts found "suggestive evidence" of potential human carcinogenicity, based on animal studies.

Canada to Ban Bulk Exports of Rx Drugs
WJLA-TV Washington D.C
TORONTO -- Canada's health minister announced Wednesday that the country intends to ban the export of bulk shipments of prescription drugs to the United States and other countries in an effort to control Internet pharmacies.

FDA Probing ADHD Drugs for Side Effects
ABC News
WASHINGTON -- The government is planning to strengthen warnings about possible psychiatric side effects from Concerta and related treatments for attention deficit hyperactivity, and is probing whether other ADHD drugs need updating, too. Concerta is a long-acting form of methylphenidate, sold generically and under the brand name Ritalin. For years, those drugs' labels have listed possible psychiatric side effects, such as agitation, psychosis or transient depression.

Second Case of Mad Cow Traced to Texas
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON -- The latest confirmed case of mad cow disease in the United States has been traced to a beef cow born in Texas 12 years ago and slaughtered last November at pet-food plant, Agriculture Department officials said Wednesday. The department's chief veterinarian, Dr. John Clifford, said the new case was identified and linked to the herd in Texas through DNA testing. He said the herd had been quarantined and that none of the infected animal's carcass entered the food or animal feed chain.

Medicaid Told to Do More to Stop Fraud
ABC News
WASHINGTON -- The agency that oversees the nation's $261 billion health insurance program for the poor places too little emphasis on helping states prevent waste and fraud, government investigators and some lawmakers said Tuesday. States are primarily responsible for ensuring that Medicaid providers bill the program for legitimate services.

Guidant Cautions Doctors on Defibrillators
The Associated Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- A second safety warning from Guidant Corp., one of the nation's largest medical device manufacturers, urged doctors to stop using five defibrillator models because they could malfunction and may have to be recalled. Indianapolis-based Guidant announced its second worldwide safety advisory in a week on Friday, after voluntarily recalling seven defibrillator models last week.