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Bedbugs Attack: Bloodsuckers Have Become Public Health Problem in San Francisconew

Bedbugs are back and they're eating San Francisco alive, sticking their blood-hungry proboscises in transient gutter punks, international travelers, homeless people, doctors, lawyers, and yes ... maybe even you.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | John Eastland | 09-16-2009 | Science

Tags: San Francisco, public health, bedbugs

Health Care Reformers Fear the Cure May be Worse Than the Diseasenew

With President Barack Obama and congressional leaders in a strong position to finally overhaul the health care system, this should be a momentous time for the reform movement. So why are so many advocacy groups unhappy?

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Rebecca Bowe and Steven T. Jones | 07-22-2009 | Science

Tags: Health Care for America Now, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, Congress, health care, health insurance, economic issues

New Report Casts Bad Light on Popular Sunscreensnew

The nonpartisan, nonprofit Environmental Working Group studied 952 sunscreens with a SPF of 15 or higher and discovered that 80 percent contain harmful chemicals and didn't really protect skin from the most damaging rays of the sun.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Amanda Witherell | 08-13-2008 | Science

Tags: environment, chemicals, Health & Science, Environmental Working Group, skin cancer, sun damage, sunscreen, tans

Big Pharma is After Your Confidential Medical Recordsnew

A state bill that would have eroded California's strong medical privacy laws nearly passed last month. The Mental Health Association of California, the National Association of Cancer Patients, and other important health advocacy organizations supported the measure, saying they believed it would improve compliance and save lives. But the bill's opponents, which included the California Medical Association and many consumer groups, asserted that the legislation was not really about helping patients.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Jake Whitney | 07-02-2008 | Science

Tags: big pharma, California, Privacy, HIPAA, Health & Science, medical records, prescriptions

Tooth and Consequencesnew

Some Americans can't afford dental care, so they're fleeing to risky clinics across the border.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Justin Juul | 02-27-2008 | Science

Tags: Health & Science

Humans Are Dogs & Even Monkeys Can Do Mathnew

Two new studies of animal intelligence caught my attention last week because they prove that humans are no better than dogs and monkeys. This is something I've always felt to be true on an anecdotal level, and now cognitive science backs me up.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | Annalee Newitz | 12-19-2007 | Science

Tags: Health & Science

San Fran's Mayor Ignores Proposals for Safe Syringe Collectionnew

Santa Cruz, New York, Baltimore, Vancouver, and many other cities feature disposal boxes in drug hot spots -- but Gavin Newsom has nixed requests to put them in the city.

San Francisco Bay Guardian | J.B. Powell | 08-29-2007 | Science

Tags: Homeless, needle exchange, Health & Science