Caroline Bradford, Author at National Center for Health Research

He Regulated Medical Devices. His Wife Represented Their Makers.

The New York Times, August 20, 2024: Ever wonder why there are so many ineffective and unsafe implants and diagnostic tests and other medical devices harming patients? This NYT investigation explains how FDA official Jeff Shuren was involved in decisions that benefited his wife — who worked for Theranos and other major device companies. Why did FDA allow that to happen year after year?

What are the risks and benefits of cannabis (smoking and non-smoking versions)?

Cannabis use has become more common in the last few years. There are many different reasons people use cannabis, and edible marijuana. Despite being used by many people for medical purposes, only one cannabis product, Epidiolex, is FDA approved. This article explains the risks and benefits of smoking and non-smoking cannabis.

Jeff Shuren stabilized the FDA’s medical devices center, winning over industry but not all patients

STAT News, August 6, 2024: STAT News article on Jeff Shuren leaving the FDA quotes praise from industry and concerns from physicians, researchers, patients, and public health experts who criticize how many devices are not proven to work.

How Good Is Wegovy’s Heart Benefit? — Experts put SELECT trial findings in context

MedPage Today, August 1, 2024: When the company that makes Wegovy weight loss drugs say it reduces major cardiovascular events by 20% they really mean it reduces that risk by 1.5% for each patient. That’s because only 8% of the placebo group had major cardiovascular events, compared to 6.5% of the Wegovy patients. Isn’t that misleading? We explain why most weight loss patients will not benefit in terms of heart disease, because the benefit is small and requires staying on Wegovy for almost 3 years.

ADHD Treatment: Medications and Alternatives

ADHD is a frequently diagnosed condition, and many children and adults take medication to help control the symptoms. But the medication can have serious side effects, there are concerns that ADHD is overdiagnosed and the medications are misused or abused, and there are alternative treatments. This article explains the risk and benefits of medications and includes alternatives that can reduce dosage or replace medications.