Health | The Seattle Times

Health

Read about medical advances and research in Seattle and worldwide. Topics include treatments; surgery; diseases such as Zika; studies of the human brain, heart and cancer; mental health; drugs and vaccinations; and Medicare, the Veterans Administration (VA) and the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. Institutions include the Hutch, UW Medicine, Harborview, Virginia Mason, Group Health and Swedish.

To save on surgery, out-of-state patients travel to Washington’s Longview

A year and a half ago, Anita Graves’ doctor told her her right knee needed to be replaced. However, rather than undergoing the procedure near her home in Omaha, Neb., where the surgery would cost about $50,000, Graves saved $13,000 by having it at the Pacific Surgical Center in Longview. “It was a miracle, because...

More Headlines

A health care worker prepares syringes, including a vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), for a child’s inoculations at the International Community Health Services Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2019, in Seattle. A recent measles outbreak has sickened more than 50 people in the Pacific Northwest, most in Washington state and, of those, most are concentrated in Clark County, just north of Portland, Oregon. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency over the outbreak last month. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

February 15, 2019 at 1:19 pm

Amid measles outbreak, state House panel moves to ban personal vaccine exemptions

The outbreak is centered in Clark County, where nonmedical vaccine objections are more than triple the national rate.

February 15, 2019 at 12:49 pm

9/11 fund running out of money for those with illnesses

NEW YORK (AP) — The compensation fund for victims of 9/11 is running out of money and will cut future payments by 50 to 70...

February 15, 2019 at 12:38 pm

Kentucky closer to banning most abortions if Roe overturned

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky took a step closer toward preparing for a possible post-Roe v. Wade era on Friday. The state House overwhelmingly passed...

FILE – In this June 18, 2018 file photo, equipment used to test for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known collectively as PFAS, in drinking water is seen at Trident Laboratories in Holland, Mich. The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to announce a plan for dealing with a class of long-lasting chemical contaminants amid complaints from members of Congress and environmentalists that it’s not moved aggressively enough to regulate them.
(Cory Morse/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File) MIGRA401 MIGRA401

February 15, 2019 at 11:55 am

As EPA announces plan to tackle chemical pollution in drinking water, Washington looks to write its own rules

Some studies link the chemicals called PFAS to an increased risk of cancer, higher cholesterol, suppressed immune systems and problems in fetal development. In Washington,...

Local News

February 15, 2019 at 11:08 am

Illinois Democrats propose expanded abortion access

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Illinois Democrats have introduced two measures that would expand abortion access in the state by removing a parental notification requirement and...

February 15, 2019 at 8:57 am

Opioid maker used rap video to push powerful painkiller

BOSTON (AP) — Employees at a drug company accused of bribing doctors rapped and danced around a person dressed as a bottle of the highly...

February 15, 2019 at 6:01 am

Boil-water advisory ends in Dayton, Ohio

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Boil-water advisories have ended for the Dayton, Ohio, area. City authorities said late Friday morning that water samples were clear of...

February 15, 2019 at 4:43 am

Teen sickened after schoolmate gives her marijuana edible

FAIR LAWN, N.J. (AP) — A 13-year-old girl has been accused of giving edible marijuana gummy bears to some classmates at her school, causing another...

February 14, 2019 at 3:33 pm

Anesthesia, if limited, can be safe for baby’s brain

While the study can’t answer broader safety questions about repeated or prolonged anesthesia, it may ease the worries of millions of parents whose children have...

February 14, 2019 at 1:46 pm

Medicare ambulance rides may no longer end up at ER

WASHINGTON (AP) — Medicare wants to change how it pays for emergency ambulance services to give seniors more options besides going to a hospital emergency...

1
2
3
…
1621
Last