As we near the end of 2024, here are some of our most widely viewed articles on the Bill of Health blog.
Reproductive health, aging/longevity, and psychedelics were among readers’ favorite topics this year. Popular articles touched on insurance coverage for psychedelic therapy, polygenic embryo screening, AI in drug development, and medical assistance in dying.
The single most-read article
Canaries in the Coal Mine: HUD’s Failure to End Childhood Lead Exposure in Federally Assisted Housing
by Anna Aguilar and Sidney Lee
In 1971, Congress tasked the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with establishing procedures to “eliminate as far as practicable” the dangers of lead poisoning. Yet, HUD has repeatedly fallen short of accomplishing this. More than 50 years later, for children in federally assisted housing in the…
COP29 and the UNFCCC’s Health Turn: Progress or Peril?
by Thalia Viveros Uehara and Alicia Ely Yamin
Conclusion of the Digital Symposium Climate Change and Health:
Mobilizing Public International Law into Action
COP29 in Baku underscored what many had feared — a summit defined by missed opportunities. Perhaps this was to be expected, given that it was the second COP in a row held…
The False Promise of Smart Pills in a Loosely Regulated Market
by Spencer Andrews
We’ve all had the experience: you receive a targeted ad on your phone or computer which mysteriously seems to read your mind. This happened to me recently when I, a busy law student, began receiving a wave of ads selling supplements which purport to improve brain focus, clarity, and memory. I had…
Reproductive Health at Risk: Climate Change and Agrotoxins in Latin America
by Cristina Rosero-Arteaga
The climate emergency in Latin America is intensifying a long-standing yet underrecognized health crisis: reproductive harm due to agrochemical exposure, particularly for rural women. As shifting climate patterns threaten to exacerbate these harms, it is crucial to bring these issues into the focus of climate action. The region’s human rights framework —…
Would You Sell Your Ancestors? The ethical paradigms of Ayahuasca (Part II)
artwork by Daiara Tukano
by Daiara Tukano and Maria Fernanda Gebara
Last June, we had the honor of speaking at “Law and Policy of Psychedelic Medicine,” the 2024 Annual Conference hosted by the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School. You can watch our panel here.
Part…
Would You Sell Your Ancestors? The ethical paradigms of Ayahuasca (Part I)
artwork by Daiara Tukano
by Daiara Tukano and Maria Fernanda Gebara
Last June, we had the honor of speaking at “Law and Policy of Psychedelic Medicine,” the 2024 Annual Conference hosted by the Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School. You can watch our panel here. Speakers…
Pace Law Review Symposium Edition: “Bioethics After Dobbs”
by James Toomey
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court decided Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning the canonical precedent Roe v. Wade and holding that the federal constitution does not protect the right to an abortion. Dobbs has once again thrust abortion to the center of the national political conversation, as states…
Trump’s 2024 Triumph: A Wild Card for Seniors’ Health Care Coverage?
by Abeer Malik
In an ideal world, everyone has a “safety net” — a reliable layer of support that catches us when life’s challenges become overwhelming. For many Americans, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has been a crucial piece of that safety net, providing access to affordable health care, expanded coverage options, and support for…
A Brief Quantum Medicine Policy Guide
by Mauritz Kop, Suzan Slijpen, Katie Liu, Jin-Hee Lee, Constanze Albrecht & I. Glenn Cohen
I. Introduction: Harnessing Quantum and AI in Precision Medicine
The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technology (QT) in precision medicine promises to revolutionize healthcare by enabling hyper-personalized treatment.
Fundamentally, for our purposes, quantum technology leverages…