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Xiulu Ruan, a board-certified Alabama pain specialist, was sentenced to 21 years in federal prison for prescribing opioid analgesics “outside the usual course of professional medical practice.” According to the appeals court that upheld his conviction, it did not matter whether he sincerely believed he was doing what a physician is supposed to do. (Jacob Sullum, 3/9)

Everyone should have the freedom to make personal decisions with those they love and trust, especially when it comes to reproductive health care, without interference from politicians. Abortion rights—guaranteed across the nation since 1973 by the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision—are now threatened by new cases before the high court, endangering the reproductive freedom of all women and girls. (Barbara Lee and Donna Brazile, 3/9)

Some say the lack of Black physicians is a pipeline problem, with too few Black people going to medical school. I say it’s a gaslighting problem. The health of Black Americans lags behind that of white Americans, driven in part by the underrepresentation of Black physicians in the medical field. Numerous studies have found that patients of color experience better health care outcomes and higher satisfaction when cared for by racially and ethnically concordant physicians. Despite the existence of pipeline programs designed to increase the number of Black physicians, only 5% of all doctors identify as Black, in stark contrast to the number of Black individuals in America who account for 14% of the population. While there are multiple causes for this discrepancy, one reason is that Black trainees represent 20% of all residents dismissed from their training programs before completion. (Shenelle Wilson, 3/10)

My family has personal experience with evidence-based gender-affirming health care at Texas Children’s Hospital. An amazing team of professionals lovingly guided us through a process that involved months of discernment with an incredible array of best-in-the-world physicians, social workers and mental health professionals. And our child’s quality of life immediately improved. Everything we did was medically necessary. We cannot imagine the devastation we would feel at being told “our lawyers say we cannot provide the medically necessary health care you desperately need.” (Neil E. Giles, 3/9)

Integrating people's mental health with their primary care is increasingly seen as vital to better overall health. In fact, this issue received a lot of attention from President Joe Biden in his recent State of the Union address. The president outlined the national mental health crisis and steps needed to address it right away. (Katherine Suberlak, 3/9)

To have a great life, all people should be able to enjoy access to their community and all that it offers. The Americans with Disabilities Act provided many new protections and accommodations that helped that become more of a reality. But the idea that some adults needed very intimate and intense care in toileting was not considered. (Phillip C. Garner, 3/9)