‘We’re Putting Teflon in Our Mouth’: What We Heard This Week

“We’re putting Teflon in our mouth.” — Laurel Schaider, PhD, senior scientist at Silent Spring Institute in Newton, Massachusetts, discussing dental floss as an example of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in everyday products.

“The least you could do is let people know that there may be heavy metals in products and make a requirement that they get tested.” — Michael White, PharmD, of the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and the Global Kratom Coalition advocacy group, discussing lead levels in kratom.

“Lesson is: new bad headache, unlike any one which a patient has had, is not normal and can herald catastrophic consequences if incorrectly diagnosed or untreated.” — Issam Awad, MD, MSc, of University of Chicago Medicine and Biological Sciences, discussing actor Jamie Foxx’s stroke in 2023.

“Everyone’s using it already for stroke, so they have no reason to go and get that indication.” — Dustin Spencer, PharmD, MBA, of Cardinal Health in Houston, on the stroke lytic tenecteplase overtaking alteplase at one large hospital system.

“I could not find a single one with independent clinical research, with what we would consider legitimate [evidence on] how the product was actually doing something positive.” — Michael Steinberg, PharmD, of the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Worcester, discussing eight popular over-the-counter supplements.

“Most healthcare professionals think [getting a Pap test] should be just part of someone’s routine of staying healthy, but many people find that a big hurdle to come over.” — Jessica Kingston, MD, of UC San Diego Health, on the new U.S. Preventive Services Task Force draft recommendations for cervical cancer screening.

“We use this terminology — ‘site-neutral’ cuts — but I think that’s a false equivalency, because there’s nothing neutral about this.” — Beth Feldpush, DrPH, senior vice president of advocacy and policy for America’s Essential Hospitals, discussing site-neutral payments in Medicare.

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