Assisted Suicide Heralds a Culture of Despair
It is ironic that many people who oppose capital punishment, war and other state-sanctioned violence support euthanasia. Their ethic inevitably falls back on 'choice' and 'autonomy' as its ultimate visions of moral good. Never mind that these two things will inevitably be taken from us. The shape of our final days, months or even years are inexplicably valuable. They have the potential to enrich others' lives in ways we can't anticipate.
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Medscape
15 minutes ago
- Medscape
FDA Warns About ‘Mousse' Sunscreens
The FDA has issued warnings to several manufacturers of 'mousse' or 'whipped cream' sunscreen products, according to the agency's website. Over-the-counter sunscreen products are regulated as drugs under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they are intended to prevent sunburn and reduce the risk for skin cancer and premature skin aging. However, the currently approved formulations include oils, creams, lotions, sticks, gels, powders, ointments, pastes, and sprays but not foam, mousse, or whipped formulas. Therefore, these formulations need to go through the new drug application process to earn FDA approval. As of August 18, warnings have been sent to five companies: Supergoop!, Vacation Inc., Kalani Sunwear, K & Care Organics, and Fallien Cosmeceuticals (manufacturer of TiZo sunscreen), according to the FDA. For example, the warning letter to Vacation Inc. states that the company's product is misbranded and therefore misleading to consumers. 'To date, no final order has been issued by the Secretary under 505G(b) or 505G(c) that would authorize marketing of a sunscreen in foam (aka, mousse or whip) dosage form,' the letter states. In addition, Vacation, in particular, markets sunscreen products similar in appearance to whipped cream products, both in the packaging and dispenser style. The website's description of the bottle's actuator producing 'perfect, star-shaped mountains of foam, inspired by everyone's favorite after dinner indulgence' has prompted concerns about ingestion by children who mistake it for actual whipped cream. Efficacy Unconfirmed Sunscreens are considered over-the-counter drugs, so they are held to a different standard compared with other skincare products, Adam Friedman, MD, professor and chair of dermatology at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, said in an interview. The companies selling mousse sunscreen products have not gone through the proper testing, 'so we don't know whether the SPF [sun protection factor] advertised is actually true,' Friedman said. Even if the companies had tested the products, mousses are not currently within the FDA's sunscreen monograph and would have to be added, although that may happen in the future if companies research the effectiveness of the products correctly, he noted. Part of the testing process is to determine how the vehicle interfaces with the skin and affects the product's ability to protect skin from sun damage, Friedman explained. Ultimately, the best sunscreen is the one someone will use consistently, he pointed out. But there is no quality assurance with any of the mousse sunscreens and the companies' responses to the FDA warnings remain to be seen. The popularity of the mousse and whipped sunscreen products may promote appropriate testing, and arguably, using a mousse sunscreen could be an improvement over using no sunscreen at all, Friedman told Medscape Medical News . However, he advises clinicians to stop short of actively endorsing these products if patients ask about them. 'Be honest with patients,' he said. 'We don't know whether these products are safe and effective because the manufacturers didn't follow the rules before marketing them.'
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Inmate died hours after being booked into Bernalillo County jail
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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Broken pipe floods Amarillo medical center, 200 evacuated
A broken pipe flooded a medical center in Amarillo that includes Northwest Surgical Hospital, part of the Northwest Texas Healthcare group, on Tuesday afternoon, forcing the evacuation of about 200 people. A BSA medical clinic in the same building was also affected, raising questions about how long patients could face disruptions. The Amarillo Fire Department was dispatched at 4:09 p.m. to a fire alarm at 3501 S. Soncy Road. Crews arrived eight minutes later to find water pouring from the entrance, and six inches of standing water spread across the 150,000-square-foot facility. Inside, firefighters saw ceiling tiles beginning to sag from water damage and quickly covered medical equipment with tarps to prevent possible damage. The flooding was traced to a two-inch line that had broken beneath the foundation, feeding the fire riser room. Because of its location, crews had to shut off the water from another valve elsewhere on the property. About 200 occupants, mostly employees and staff, were safely evacuated. One patient, recently out of surgery, was transferred to Northwest Texas Hospital as a precaution. No injuries were reported. Structural and electrical engineers are scheduled to assess the building Wednesday, including its integrity and electrical systems, and determine what needs to be replaced before operations resume. Officials have not yet said how long the flooding may impact operations at Northwest Surgical Hospital or the BSA clinic, and patients with upcoming appointments are advised to check ahead. Cleanup crews worked late into the night to remove water and mud debris from the flooding. A layer of silt and sand from the ruptured foundation mixed with the water, complicating recovery efforts. AFD spokesman Jason Love stressed the importance of fire suppression systems. 'They do work — I know they can be a nuisance, but in times like this it was a true emergency,' he said. 'The alarms worked exactly like they were supposed to. They alerted dispatch, the fire department responded, and had there been a fire, the system would have done its job.' The fire department commended the swift evacuation efforts and reminded the public of the importance of maintaining fire protection systems and being prepared for emergencies. Updates on the hospital's reopening and patient services are expected once assessments are complete. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo medical center flooding forces 200 evacuations, no injuries Solve the daily Crossword
