Daily Rounds: Carney Psych Complaints; Scary Cigarettes; JAMA Editor's Warning; Fake Fat Backfires?

Complaint tally grows at Carney psych unit - The Boston Globe "The firing of 29 nurses and mental health counselors at Carney Hospital last month followed five complaints of abuse or neglect on the adolescent psychiatry unit — not one as initially disclosed by the hospital — according to state officials. In one case, a mental health counselor allegedly assaulted a 16-year-old female patient. In another, a counselor reportedly assaulted a 15-year-old male patient. One of those incidents involved a sexual assault, Carney officials said. The Department of Mental Health also investigated the three cases and found that staff 'acted in a manner that was dangerous, illegal, and inhumane.'" (boston.com)

Government Chooses Nine Graphic Images for Cigarette Packs - NYTimes.com "Federal health officials released on Tuesday their final selection of nine graphic warning labels to cover the top half of cigarette packages beginning next year, over the opposition of tobacco manufacturers. The warnings cover the top half of cigarette packages. n the first major change to warning labels in more than a quarter-century, the graphic images will include photos of horribly damaged teeth and lungs and a man exhaling smoke through a tracheotomy opening in his neck." (nytimes.com)

JAMA Editor's warning: Onward, June 22/29, 2011, DeAngelis "'I truly believe that assuring authors, reviewers, and readers of JAMA 's editorial freedom and gaining the trust necessary to have achieved JAMA's success was possible because I reported to another physician (the EVP-CEO of the AMA) for administrative issues and because the Journal Oversight Committee was composed of individuals whose only goal was ensuring editorial freedom. I fear that this success, which depended a great deal on editorial independence, might now be in jeopardy with the incoming editor in chief reporting for business and financial operations to the SVP and publisher as well as with the upcoming completion of terms of some key members of the Journal Oversight Committee. I truly hope I am wrong, but time will tell.'" (JAMA)

Eating Fake Fat Makes you Real Fat, Olestra Study Finds - ABC News "Another diet myth bites the dust: Products containing the calorie-less fake fat Olean, of fat-free potato chips fame, may make you gain weight, not lose it. In a new study released today by Purdue University, researchers found that rats who were fed Olean-containing potato chips as part of a high-fat diet ate more overall and gained more weight than those who were fed a high fat diet and regular, full-fat potato chips. "Fat substitutes can interfere with the body's ability to regulate what it eats, and that can result in overeating," said Susan Swithers, lead author and psychology professor at Purdue University."(ABC News)

Rep: Obamacare standards could spur small businesses to leave Mass. - BostonHerald.com "Hunt, a certified public accountant, said several of his clients have stopped hiring when they reach 10 employees to avoid health care penalties. In one case, he said, a company reduced its workforce from 13 to 10 to avoid the subsidy requirement. These companies, he said, can’t afford to hire a full-time human resources worker to address paperwork and forms necessary to comply with health insurance mandates." (Boston Herald)

Defunding efforts cause cuts in Planned Parenthood services - USATODAY.com "The consequences of efforts to prevent taxpayer dollars from going to Planned Parenthood are now being felt. A state law cutting off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood of Indiana took effect May 10. "Our 9,300 Medicaid patients … are going to see their care disrupted," said Betty Cockrum, president of Planned Parenthood of Indiana." (yourlife.usatoday.com)