As more and more families try to get courts to prevent their loved ones from being declared brain dead, physicians push for a clearer definition of brain death. Thaddeus Pope and Ariane Lewis aim to lower the threshold for the declaration of brain death in state laws. But why? They believe it’s wasteful to funnel medical resources to the dead rather than the living who do have a chance at survival. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
