Indiana's Medical Licensing Board has issued a $3,000 fine and a letter of reprimand to an Indianapolis OB-GYN who discussed the case of a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio with a reporter. The board concluded that Dr. Caitlin Bernard had violated patient privacy laws, and the decision has been met with mixed reactions from the public. The board's decision serves as a reminder that patient privacy must be respected and that medical professionals must adhere to the laws and regulations of their respective states.
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A judge has temporarily blocked the implementation of South Carolina's new abortion ban at around six weeks of pregnancy, pending review by the state Supreme Court. The law, which was passed by the General Assembly on Tuesday, is similar to a 2021 ban on abortion once cardiac activity can be detected. The state Supreme Court previously ruled that the 2021 law violated the state constitution's right to privacy. The decision to halt the implementation of the new law means South Carolina reverts back to a ban at about 20 weeks after fertilization, for now.
An Indiana Medical Licensing Board is set to hear allegations that Dr. Caitlin Bernard should face disciplinary action for speaking publicly about providing an abortion to a 10-year-old rape victim. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has accused Bernard of failing to report child abuse and violating patient privacy. The hearing will decide if Bernard should be reprimanded, suspended, or have her license revoked for her actions.
The Grier family has filed a $100 million federal civil rights lawsuit against the Hancock County Sheriff's Office after Brianna Grier, a 28-year-old Georgia mother, died last summer after falling out of a sheriff's patrol car. The lawsuit alleges that deputies "unlawfully and willfully seized and restrained" Grier and failed to provide medical assistance, causing injury to her head and brain. The Grier family is seeking justice and accountability in the case and is seeking $100 million in damages for the wrongful death of Brianna Grier.
95-year-old Australian woman Clare Nowland has died a week after being shot with a stun gun by a police officer in a nursing home. The incident has sparked a debate about the use of stun guns by police and the need for better support for elderly people with dementia. The police officer involved has been suspended and an investigation has been launched.
Typhoon Mawar, a Category 4 storm, is set to make landfall in Guam on Wednesday, bringing torrential rains, life-threatening storm surge, and hurricane-force winds. President Joe Biden has declared an emergency and local authorities have urged residents to evacuate flood-prone areas and take all necessary precautions to protect themselves and their families. Forecasters have already reported sustained winds of over 50 mph and gusting over 70 mph.
South Carolina is set to enact a new law banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy, with exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, the patient's life and health, and rape or incest. The bill has been met with both praise and criticism from both sides of the aisle, and is expected to be signed into law by Governor Henry McMaster. The law is sure to be a contentious issue in the coming months, as both sides of the debate continue to battle over the issue of abortion rights.
The CDC released a report showing that the rate of new HIV infections in the US has decreased by 12% between 2017 and 2021, despite a sharp drop in HIV testing in 2020. Other wealthy Western nations have seen even greater success, with annual infection rates dropping by more than 70% in the Netherlands, 68% in Italy and 44% in Australia. The CDC report is a positive sign of progress, but there is still much work to be done to ensure all Americans have access to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention.