doctors

An Italian court has convicted three Egyptian security officials in absentia of kidnapping Giulio Regeni, the Cambridge doctoral student tortured and killed in Egypt in 2016. The verdict is the first judicial outcome in a case that strained relations between Italy and Egypt for years and has drawn attention from human rights groups and Italian media.

New research suggests donor hearts may take on the biological age of their recipients after transplantation, rather than retaining the age of the original donor. Reported by Scientific American, the finding could reshape how doctors think about organ aging, rejection risk and long-term outcomes for transplant patients.

A growing debate is unfolding over legal responsibility when artificial intelligence systems used in healthcare make errors. As AI tools move into diagnosis and treatment decisions, questions are mounting over whether doctors, hospitals, drugmakers or software developers should be held accountable when a wrong recommendation harms a patient, and regulators have yet to offer clear answers.

Patients are increasingly consulting the internet for health information before contacting doctors or medical services, according to a report from Chronicle Online. The trend suggests people are using online searches as a first step to assess symptoms and decide whether professional care is needed. Commentators note this raises questions about the reliability of online health advice and how medical services should respond to better-informed, or misinformed, patients.

Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, the wife of former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has died at the age of 100. A doctor by training and a prominent public figure in her own right, she was known for her decades alongside Mahathir, who served as Malaysia's leader for over 20 years. Details on the circumstances of her death have not yet been released, and tributes are expected from across Malaysian political life.

A new study finds that people who stop taking GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy, may face an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The findings suggest the cardiovascular benefits of these medications depend on continued use, raising questions about how patients should manage long-term treatment.

A new report finds that more than one in five older Americans take combinations of medications that could cause major drug interactions, with antidepressants topping the list of drugs involved. The findings raise concerns about polypharmacy among seniors, many of whom take multiple prescriptions for chronic conditions, and highlight the need for better medication review by doctors and pharmacists.

A recall of chlorthalidone, a widely prescribed blood pressure medication, is drawing attention after reports linked it to FDA dissolution testing failures. Dissolution testing checks whether a pill dissolves properly in the body, so failing tablets may not deliver the intended dose. Patients are advised not to stop taking their medication suddenly and to consult a pharmacist or doctor about alternatives.

An obesity medicine doctor is addressing the growing trend of microdosing Ozempic, the diabetes drug widely used for weight loss, explaining the safety concerns and potential risks of taking lower-than-standard doses. The doctor notes there are limited situations where a low dose may be appropriate, but warns patients against adjusting medication on their own without medical supervision.

New research suggests that people who lose the same amount of weight can experience very different health outcomes, with identical weight loss not producing the same metabolic or cardiovascular benefits in everyone. The findings point to individual differences in how the body responds to weight loss and could affect how doctors evaluate diet success beyond the scale.

The South China Morning Post reports on the hidden risks of combining traditional Chinese medicine with Western prescription drugs. The piece highlights concerns that herbal remedies can interact with pharmaceuticals, altering their effectiveness or causing harmful side effects, particularly when patients do not tell their doctors about everything they are taking. It calls for greater awareness among patients and practitioners about these potential interactions.

Vikings star wide receiver Justin Jefferson is dealing with an ankle injury sustained in Week 3, and sports doctors have publicly offered their assessments of the setback. Commentators drew a comparison to De'Zhaun Stribling's injury situation, suggesting a similar diagnosis or recovery path. Fans are awaiting official word on how long Minnesota's top offensive weapon might be sidelined.

A forum letter in Singapore argues that patients who combine Western medicine with traditional Chinese medicine should receive clinical judgment rather than blanket bans. The writer says doctors should focus on managing potentially harmful interactions and guiding patients honestly instead of dismissing or prohibiting complementary therapies outright, a stance that touches an ongoing debate over integrating traditional and modern care.

An emergency room doctor is sharing her account of surviving the Grand Blanc Township church shooting in Michigan, one year after the attack. The retrospective interview covers what she experienced during the shooting and how the year since has unfolded for her and the affected community.