Reading up on healthcare
64 deep · digging since nov 20, 25
- I used Claude Code to get a second opinion on my MRI
A user describes using Claude Code to review an MRI report, finding it a helpful informational tool but cautioning against blind trust in LLM outputs.
- How A.I. Might Change the Way Doctors Think
AI-generated patient exam summaries may change how doctors form diagnoses, potentially reducing their cognitive engagement with cases.
- Claude Science, an AI workbench for scientists \ Anthropic
Anthropic launched Claude Science, an AI workbench that integrates scientific tools, produces auditable artifacts, and manages compute for researchers.
- $22,000 Per Hour: Assistants Use a Legislative Loophole to Outearn Surgeons
A law curbing surprise billing lets surgical assistants claim outsized arbitration awards, often surpassing the surgeons they assist in hourly earnings.
- Preliminary Thoughts On The Midjourney Scanner
Midjourney's pivot to a full-body ultrasound scanner faces skepticism from radiologists due to physical limitations and lack of evidence for whole-body screening, though future AI could change its usefulness.
- Midjourney Medical
Medical experts on Hacker News critique Midjourney Medical's full-body ultrasound scanner, citing physical limitations and questioning its diagnostic utility over existing handheld devices.
- Kennedy’s Push to Curb Antidepressants Has Shaken Psychiatry
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called for curbing antidepressants at a psychiatric meeting, sparking fears that patients will be driven away from care.
- Should You Trust Your Health to a Chiropractor?
Chiropractic care is supported by evidence for some conditions like low back pain but lacks proof for many advertised uses.
- Fitness wearable Whoop to offer on-demand clinician access in U.S.
Whoop will add in-app on-demand doctor consults and AI coaching for U.S. users, with video visits at extra cost, expanding into connected health.
- American Factories Lag in Adopting A.I. This Drugmaker Is an Exception.
A Bristol Myers Squibb plant making cancer drugs was the only U.S. manufacturer recognized by the World Economic Forum for AI innovation this year.
- ‘They Said A.I. Saved Me’: How South Korea Is Checking on Its Seniors
South Korea deploys AI voice-call systems to check on isolated seniors and slow dementia in the world's fastest-aging society.
- It Felt Like a Pulled Muscle, but the Pain Kept Coming Back
A man's recurrent calf pain, initially mistaken for a pulled muscle, required extensive travel and specialist consultations to diagnose.
- Antibiotics Are an Economic Failure
Antibiotic resistance persists due to economic and social failures, not lack of scientific discovery, as broken market incentives discourage drug development.
- He Warned About the Dangers of A.I. If Only His Father Had Listened. - The New York Times
Ben Riley wrote about AI chatbot risks before his father relied on AI medical advice over his doctor, illustrating real-world harm from over-trusting AI.
- Nicole Kidman Wants to Become a Death Doula. What Is That? - The New York Times
Nicole Kidman’s public wish to train as a death doula after her mother’s death prompts an explanation of what death doulas do — non-medical end-of-life planning, emotional, and practical support.
- Surgeon Who Removed Wrong Organ From Patient Is Charged in His Death - The New York Times
A Florida surgeon removed a patient's liver instead of a spleen, tried to claim it was a spleen, and has been charged after the patient died.
- If You Love ‘The Pitt,’ You’ll Love These Memoirs by Real E.R. Doctors - The New York Times
NYT recommends real ER doctors' memoirs that capture the high-stakes, fast-paced, and character-driven reality of emergency medicine.
- Perplexity launches Perplexity Health agent in US
Perplexity launches Perplexity Health in the US, a private AI health hub with data dashboards and specialized agents, competing with Microsoft and OpenAI.
- A.I. Chatbots Want Your Health Records. Tread Carefully. - The New York Times
Microsoft upgrades its AI assistant to track health records, following Amazon and OpenAI, warning users of both benefits and risks.
- Microsoft’s New AI Health Tool Can Read Your Medical Records and Give Advice - WSJ
Microsoft launches Copilot Health, an AI-powered concierge doctor within its Copilot app that provides personalized advice based on user medical records and biometric data.
- Spring Allergy Season Is Coming. Here’s How to Make It Less Miserable. - The New York Times
Starting allergy treatments like antihistamines or nasal sprays several weeks before spring begins can reduce symptom severity throughout the season.
- Nen - Computer Use Automations for Desktop
Nen provides production-grade infrastructure for deploying AI agents that automate legacy desktop enterprise software in healthcare, logistics, and finance.
- Elite Doctors Served Jeffrey Epstein While Treating His ‘Girls’ - The New York Times
Doctors provided elite medical care to Jeffrey Epstein and his associates, often violating professional ethics.
- Thank HN: You helped save 33k lives
Watsi's founder reflects on 13 years since the Show HN launch, sharing that the nonprofit funded 33,241 surgeries with $20M in donations while grappling with the challenges of scaling a nonprofit.
- Peter Attia’s Ties to Epstein Spark a Backlash From Doctors - The New York Times
The backlash over Dr. Peter Attia's ties to Jeffrey Epstein has widened into a debate about his credentials and whether patients can trust longevity medicine.
- A.I. Is Making Doctors Answer a Question: What Are They Really Good For? - The New York Times
AI chatbots are making doctors reevaluate their role, but physicians do not intend to abandon medicine despite feeling threatened.
- Her Sudden Back Pain Was Unbearable. What Could Ease It? - The New York Times
A doctor and mother of four experienced severe, unstoppable back pain, highlighting the limits of medical relief for acute spinal conditions.
- 6 Podcasts About Medicine and Health Care - The New York Times
The New York Times article recommends six podcasts about medicine and health care that help navigate soaring insurance costs, policy changes, and medical misinformation.
- Nurses in New York City Say They Deserve $200,000 a Year. Here’s Why. - The New York Times
Nurses in New York City striking into their second week argue they deserve $200,000 a year due to the high cost of living and intense workload.
- Is Your Medicine Cabinet a Mess? - The New York Times
The article provides guidelines on which expired or unnecessary medications to discard, what to keep, and safe storage practices for household drugs.
- Going Founder Mode On Cancer - by Elliot Hershberg
GitLab co-founder Sid Sijbrandij used a founder-mode strategy of maximal diagnostics and personalized therapies to achieve remission from osteosarcoma after standard care failed.
- Exercise can be nearly as effective as therapy for depression
A Cochrane review suggests exercise may reduce depressive symptoms, but commenters debate its clinical significance and note depression often kills the motivation to exercise.
- Initial Obamacare Enrollment Drops by 1.4 Million as Expiring ACA Subsidies Drive Up Premiums - The New York Times
Expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies drove up premiums, causing initial Obamacare enrollment to drop by 1.4 million, a figure expected to grow.
- Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic reduce household grocery spending by 5.3% and shift purchases from snacks to yogurt, fruit, and nutrition bars.
- RFK Jr. Overhauls Food Pyramid to Emphasize Red Meat and Dairy - The New York Times
New U.S. dietary guidelines released by the Trump administration emphasize protein from red meat and dairy while recommending reduced added sugars and processed foods.
- New Dietary Guidelines Abandon Longstanding Advice on Alcohol - The New York Times
New US dietary guidelines drop specific safe drinking limits and cancer warnings, replacing them with a vague directive to "limit" alcohol consumption.
- The golden age of vaccine development - Works in Progress Magazine
Vaccine development has progressed from serendipitous discoveries to a systematic, atomic-precision science, enabling the design of new vaccines in weeks rather than centuries.
- OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health to connect user medical records
OpenAI launched ChatGPT Health, a dedicated space for users to connect medical records and wellness apps for health queries without diagnosis.
- Anti-aging injection regrows knee cartilage and prevents arthritis
Blocking the 15-PGDH protein via injection regrows knee cartilage and prevents arthritis in aging and injured mice, with potential for human therapy.
- Vaccines Are Helping Older People More Than We Knew - The New York Times
Vaccines provide unexpected off-target benefits for older people, including a reduced risk of dementia, according to multiple studies.
- ‘Chinese Peptides’ Are the Latest Biohacking Trend in the Tech World - The New York Times
Gray-market Chinese peptides have become a popular biohacking tool in Silicon Valley, reflecting a culture that prioritizes speed over FDA regulation.
- Claire Brosseau Wants to Die. Will Canada Let Her? - The New York Times
Canada debates expanding medical assistance in dying to individuals with mental illness, as Claire Brosseau seeks the right to die despite divided professional opinion.
- As Youth Sports Professionalize, Kids Are Burning Out Fast - The New York Times
Pressure from overbearing coaches and parents in increasingly professionalized youth sports is causing emotional harm and injuries in children, according to research.
- 12 Outlooks for the Future: 2026+
The piece predicts twelve trends for 2026+, including talent arbitrage, the rise of craft over AI slop, hardware moats, ambient listening, and internal development teams replacing SaaS.
- What to Know About Norovirus: Symptoms, Transmission and More - The New York Times
Norovirus is highly contagious and spreads easily; the article explains its symptoms, transmission routes, and prevention measures for the current season.
- What Is Gout, and Why Is it on the Rise? - The New York Times
Gout, a form of arthritis, is rising due to dietary and lifestyle changes, yet stigma keeps many sufferers from seeking treatment.
- New Eli Lilly Drug Retatrutide Brought Major Weight Loss in Trial - The New York Times
A clinical trial of Eli Lilly's retatrutide, which targets three hormones, resulted in significantly greater weight loss than any currently approved drug.
- The Future of AI, Bioelectric Medicine, Surviving Modern Dating, and More — The Random Show - YouTube
Tim Ferriss and Kevin Rose discuss AI trends, bioelectric medicine, modern dating advice, and other eclectic topics in this wide-ranging podcast episode.
- What Menopause Does to the Body - The New York Times
Menopause causes a wide range of physical symptoms across the entire body, from hot flashes to joint pain, due to hormonal shifts.
- He Had the Worst Bloody Nose of His Life. That Was Just the Beginning. - The New York Times
A man's chronic, severe nosebleed remained undiagnosed for years until a scan revealed its underlying cause.
- Hepatitis A, B and C: What to Know About Symptoms, Vaccines and Treatment - The New York Times
The NYT explains symptoms, vaccines, and treatments for Hepatitis A, B, and C, noting the disease became a key issue in Washington.
- People Are Uploading Their Medical Records to A.I. Chatbots - The New York Times
Despite privacy and accuracy risks, people are uploading blood test results, doctor's notes, and surgical reports to AI chatbots like ChatGPT.
- Why Are My Hands and Feet Cold? - The New York Times
Cold hands and feet are usually harmless but can sometimes indicate underlying medical conditions like Raynaud's disease or circulation issues.
- Gene Therapy Offer a Cure for Babies With the Deadly ‘Bubble Boy Disease’ - The New York Times
Gene therapy using a modified HIV virus has effectively cured 48 of 50 infants born with severe combined immunodeficiency, restoring normal immune function.
- Is It OK to Binge Drink Occasionally? - The New York Times
Occasional binge drinking—four or more drinks in a sitting—still carries significant health risks, including cancer and heart disease, experts say.
- The Rise of the ‘Just in Case’ M.R.I. - The New York Times
Companies are offering direct-to-consumer MRI scans and other medical tests without requiring a doctor's order, driven by consumer demand for proactive health monitoring.
- Tatiana Schlossberg, John F. Kennedy’s Granddaughter, Reveals Terminal Cancer Diagnosis - The New York Times
Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy, announced she has terminal cancer in an essay released on the anniversary of his assassination.
- Eli Lilly, Drug Maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro, Reaches $1 Trillion in Value - The New York Times
Eli Lilly, the drugmaker behind Zepbound and Mounjaro, became the first health-care company to achieve a $1 trillion market value.
- Early Signs Point to a Harsh Flu Season in the U.S. - The New York Times
The flu virus circulating this year is more virulent and is spreading faster and earlier than usual, signaling a harsh flu season in the U.S.
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Uneven Frontiers
@BenjamineYLiu
I’ve been on CrowdHealth for 5 months. I just don’t want to deal with the insurance companies anymore on principle. The cost savings are just a bonus.
@dvassallo
https://t.co/HZ7vlQSoCh
@SherryYanJiang
My annual MRI scan gives me a USB stick with the data, but you need this commercial windows software to open it. Ran Claude on the stick and asked it to make me a html based viewer tool. This looks... way better. pic.twitter.com/6bAR7N4Vt6
@tobi
Neuralink will start high-volume production of brain-computer interface devices and move to a streamlined, almost entirely automated surgical procedure in 2026. Device threads will go through the dura, without the need to remove it. This is a big deal. https://t.co/nfNmtFHKsp
@elonmusk