Experimental Pulse Oximeter Accurate Regardless Of Skin Tone, Researchers Say

Pulse oximeters became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors used the finger clip devices to tell whether a respiratory infection was robbing patients of needed oxygen. 

But skin tone impairs the effectiveness of pulse oximeters, causing them to overestimate blood oxygen levels of darker-toned people.

That’...

'Normal' Can Backfire During Doctor/Patient Discussions

A positive bedside manner might sometimes be the worst thing for doctors to provide patients, researchers say.

Patients might come away thinking they don’t need treatment — even if they really do — after a doctor reassures them by saying their symptoms are “normal,” according to a study published Aug. 10 in

Tamiflu Helps Keep Severely Ill Kids Out Of The ICU, Study Finds

Children with the flu who receive prompt treatment with Tamiflu are less likely to land in a hospital intensive care unit (ICU), a new study says.

Oseltamivir (Tamiflu) given as soon as possible reduced children’s risk of needing ICU care by 31%, researchers reported Aug. 10 in JAMA Pediatrics.

“After one of the ...

Executive Order Calls For Fewer Routine Childhood Vaccines, Doctors Push Back

A new executive order calls for American children to be routinely immunized against 11 diseases instead of the 17 now recommended by federal health officials.

President Donald Trump signed the order Monday — the third such order in less than a year. Whether it carries any legal force is unclear, according to The New York Times