Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Begin Colon Cancer Screening Earlier, At Age 45, Key Panel Urges
A key panel of experts on Tuesday recommended for the first time that people get screened for colorectal cancer starting at age 45, instead of age 50, pointing to new evidence of the cancer in younger people.聽The recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force comes after American Cancer Society recommended the same age change聽in 2018. The draft recommendation is open for comment until Nov. 23. (Sullivan, 10/27)
In other public health news 鈥
Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday people who have recovered from COVID-19 can not get it again, despite scientific evidence that refutes his claim. Speaking at a campaign event for Nick Freitas, a congressional candidate in Virginia, the outspoken Kentucky senator urged restaurants and cruise ships to hire people who have had COVID-19. (Stunson, 10/27)
Pinterest has built its massive brand around its identity as a cheery, curated hub of health and wellness content 鈥 complete with a widely praised, hardline policy against medical misinformation. But behind the scenes, Pinterest鈥檚 battle against misinformation has been just as much a fight inside the company鈥檚 own doors. A STAT investigation has found that the platform鈥檚 policy was crafted and championed by a handful of employees 鈥 largely women of color 鈥 who say they were met with pushback and apathy from co-workers and supervisors. (Brodwin, 10/28)
Ted Teuten is facing an agonizing question for Thanksgiving this year: Is it safe for his 76-year-old mother to come? Mr. Teuten, an interior designer, normally hosts a feast with family and friends. This year, he鈥檚 debating the risks his mom will face if she travels to his home in Chicago from hers near Albany, N.Y. 鈥淢y sister and I just finished texting about whether to put my mom on a plane,鈥 he says. He鈥檚 worried too about the risks of a long, indoor dinner at close quarters. 鈥淭he whole thing is deeply questionable at this point,鈥 he says. (Chaker, 10/27)
Chrissy Teigen is "ready" to talk about her pregnancy loss. In September, Teigen, 34, announced in a series of emotional hospital room photos on Instagram that聽she and her husband John Legend, 41,聽lost their unborn son,聽three days after Teigen聽was hospitalized for bleeding issues. On Tuesday, the model and TV personality got even more candid about the heartbreaking聽experience, describing it in detail聽in聽a Medium聽essay聽and sharing how she's coped since. (Trepany, 10/27)
Now that moms and dads have gotten a new window into the classroom, many are having a hard time staying out of it. Some are asking questions during live video classes or texting teachers while class is in session. Others are sitting next to their kids and asking them questions or prodding them to speak up. In one hybrid class, an at-home parent on Zoom interrupted a teacher to point out that a student in the physical classroom wasn鈥檛 wearing his mask over his nose. (Jargon, 10/27)
Over the past month, Dr. Richard Besdine and his wife have been discussing whether to see family and friends indoors this fall and winter. He thinks they should, so long as people have been taking strict precautions during the coronavirus pandemic. She's not convinced it's safe, given the heightened risk of viral transmission in indoor spaces. (Graham, 10/28)