2025-08-23 18:00:23.268

For couples struggling with infertility, in-vitro fertilization (IVF) is often the last resort. But a growing movement promotes Restorative Reproductive Medicine (RRM), a collection of therapies focusing on lifestyle changes, supplements, and hormone prescriptions to boost natural fertility, avoiding IVF. While some see RRM as a holistic approach, others, including many fertility doctors, view it as a rebranding of basic infertility evaluations, lacking the efficacy of IVF. The political landscape is further complicating the issue, with conservative groups and even some government officials promoting RRM, potentially due to its alignment with anti-abortion views. This ideological push raises concerns among fertility specialists who warn that RRM may delay necessary IVF treatment, resulting in missed opportunities for conception. The debate also highlights the growing influence of "wellness" culture and the distrust of mainstream medicine, creating fertile ground for alternative approaches, even those with limited scientific evidence. While some RRM advocates emphasize its affordability and compatibility with a holistic lifestyle, critics caution against over-reliance on surgery and the potential for misleading patients. The article explores the experiences of individuals who have used RRM, the scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness, and the political motivations behind its rise.

2025-07-24 18:00:29.602

UnitedHealth Group announced it is cooperating with federal investigations into its Medicare Advantage business. The Department of Justice launched a civil fraud investigation into how the company records diagnoses, potentially leading to inflated payments. A criminal investigation is also underway, focusing on the use of doctors and nurses to gather diagnoses that boost payments. The company, which covers over 8 million Medicare Advantage members, has seen its stock price drop significantly following the news, as well as other recent setbacks including the CEO's death and revised financial forecasts.

2025-07-02 00:00:47.882

Three senior leaders at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where convicted child serial killer Lucy Letby worked, have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The arrests come amidst ongoing investigations into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the hospital's neonatal unit, and at the Liverpool Women's Hospital where Letby had training placements. The investigation focuses on the actions and inactions of individuals, and also examines the hospital's senior leadership and decision-making in response to the increased number of infant fatalities. Letby, who was convicted of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more, is serving a whole-life sentence. However, an international panel of experts has raised questions about the medical evidence presented during her trial, suggesting that the babies' deaths may have resulted from natural causes or inadequate medical care. These concerns have prompted calls for an urgent re-examination of the case and a full public inquiry into failings at the hospital. A public inquiry is scheduled for early 2026. The hospital has declined to comment on the ongoing police investigations and public inquiry.

2025-07-01 18:02:03.723

Three senior leaders at the Countess of Chester Hospital, where convicted child serial killer Lucy Letby worked, have been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. The arrests follow an ongoing investigation into the deaths and non-fatal collapses of babies at the hospital's neonatal unit, and also at the Liverpool Women's Hospital where Letby had training placements. The investigation includes separate inquiries into corporate manslaughter, focusing on senior leadership decisions, and gross negligence manslaughter focusing on individual actions or inactions. All three suspects have been released on bail. These arrests do not affect Letby's convictions for murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven more. However, Letby's convictions have faced criticism from an international panel of experts who questioned the medical evidence presented at trial, suggesting the deaths may have resulted from natural causes or inadequate medical care. Former UK Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has called for an urgent reexamination of the case. Letby's lawyer has also called for a full public inquiry into failings at the hospital. A public government inquiry is set for early 2026. The Countess of Chester Hospital declined to comment due to ongoing investigations.