Bioethics & Health News
December 1

December 1, 2005

Ill. Pharmacists Withhold Emergency Pill

Walgreen Co. (WAG) said it has put four Illinois pharmacists in the St. Louis area on unpaid leave for refusing to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception in violation of a state rule.
(AP)

Abortion Pill Deaths Probed

The recent deaths of five young women from an otherwise rare infection within a week of taking the abortion pill Mifeprex — also known as RU 486 — are pitting those who say the drug is a danger to women against those who believe it is a largely safe method of terminating pregnancy.
(HealthDay)

Evangelicals Venture Into AIDS Activism

After years of ministering to AIDS patients overseas, evangelical Christians are turning attention to the disease in their own back yard – and one of the nation’s largest and best-known megachurches is leading the way.
(AP)

Fruit Bats May Carry Ebola Virus

Fruit bats may be acting as reservoirs of the killer Ebola virus, responsible for several deadly outbreaks in central Africa, research suggests.
(BBC)

Heavy Pot Smoking Might Raise Schizophrenia Risk

Heavy marijuana use may increase the risk of schizophrenia in adolescents predisposed to the brain disorder, according to a new U.S. study.
(HealthDay)

Study: Older Drugs May Put Elderly at Risk

Older anti-psychotic drugs are no safer and might even be worse for the elderly than newer ones that the government warned about earlier this year – both raise the risk of death, a study suggests.
(AP)