News
Article
Author(s):
Judge rules Florida's ban on gender-affirming care for minors unconstitutional; first consensus definition for long COVID aims to standardize diagnosis and care; pilot program for clinical trial diversity discontinued due to high cost and lack of impact.
A federal judge has ruled that Florida's new restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors are unconstitutional, asserting that the legislation promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis and other Republican lawmakers discriminates against transgender individuals, according to Politico. The decision marks a significant victory for human rights groups who argued that the ban violated equal protection rights. However, Florida plans to appeal the ruling, maintaining that the restrictions are necessary for protecting children from irreversible harm.
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have published a new consensus definition for long COVID, addressing the need for a unified diagnosis framework, according to CIDRAP. The definition describes long COVID as a chronic condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection that persists for at least 3 months and affects 1 or more organ systems. This standardization aims to enhance research, diagnosis, and care for the millions affected by long COVID.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) piloted a program to cover travel expenses for patients with cancer and their caregivers to attend clinical trial screenings, aiming to attract a more diverse group of volunteers, according to Stat. Despite this effort, the program was discontinued after a year due to high costs and no significant increase in participant diversity. The initiative coincided with budget cuts, highlighting the challenges of enrolling diverse populations in clinical research.
Small Firms, Big Costs: Employer Health Coverage Disparities
How to Choose Between Fixed-Duration vs Continuous BTKi Therapy for CLL