Health

Amazon Settles Lawsuit, Bans Mercury-Laden Skin-Lightening Products to Comply With Health Laws

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Amazon has come to a resolution in a legal conflict spanning over a decade, committing to restrict the sale of skin-lightening products with hazardous mercury levels on its online platform. This action concludes a lengthy lawsuit initiated by the shareholder advocacy group As You Sow, focusing on consumer protection. Under the agreement announced Friday, the retail giant will not only cease sales of these harmful products but also pay $6 million in civil penalties and legal fees. Part of this settlement involves implementing strict monitoring tools to prevent both brands and third-party sellers from listing … Read more

Opinion: The Public Health Risks Posed by RFK Jr.’s Advocacy and Rhetoric

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent figure in the environmental law sector and a member of the storied Kennedy clan, has increasingly become a figure of controversy due to his outspoken views on vaccines and public health policies. Experts express concerns that his stance could undermine the establishment and administration of vaccines, which are critical in combating infectious diseases and safeguarding public health. Kennedy has been increasingly vocal about his skepticism of vaccine safety and efficacy, a stance that aligns him with the anti-vaccine movement. This has raised alarms among public health officials and medical … Read more

New York Poised to Set Precedent with Groundbreaking Health Data Privacy Law, Awaiting Governor’s Signature

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ALBANY, N.Y. — New York state lawmakers have passed a groundbreaking health data privacy bill, dubbed the New York Health Information Privacy Act (NYHIPA), which now awaits the signature of Governor Kathy Hochul. This legislation positions New York at the forefront of states battling for enhanced privacy protections in health data handling, with implications that could extend nationally. NYHIPA aims to bridge significant gaps left by the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), introducing more stringent requirements for a wide range of businesses that deal with health-related data. This includes entities from telehealth … Read more

Mississippi’s New Mental Health Law Struggles with Inconsistent Data, Challenging Implementation

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In an effort to curb the problematic trend of incarcerating individuals solely for their mental health issues, Mississippi enacted a new civil commitment law last year, officials report. The legislation comes in response to troubling findings that revealed many individuals with serious mental illnesses were being detained without criminal charges as they awaited involuntary psychological evaluations and treatment, a practice resulting in at least 17 deaths since 2006. Despite the intentions behind the law, which restricts the jailing of mentally ill individuals to those who are “actively violent” and for no more than 48 hours, … Read more