Imagine this: a father pushing his child in a stroller, fulfilling his duties as a father, seen as attractive and potentially “the new kind of manly.” Author Katrin Bennhold describes this new definition of masculinity in her article, “In Sweden, Men Can Have It All,” as a “most striking example of social engineering.” Ms. Bennhold...Continue reading
Category: Public Policy
Protect Medicare Part D
It’s budget season in Washington, D.C., and it seems like nearly everything is on the table as lawmakers discuss how to tackle the federal deficit. In particular, some legislators are considering proposals that would make big changes to the Medicare prescription drug program, Part D, that could raise out-of-pocket costs and potentially reduce the choices...Continue reading
Literary Convention and the Slaughter of Innocent Children
As we try to absorb the tragic events at the school shooting in New Town, Connecticut, various sages have come out of the background to tell us what it all means, and what we can do about it. Gun control advocates – long ignored by our political leaders – have told us, reasonably enough, that...
Making a Difference in Health Care Policy: The Campaign for Modern Medicines
Earlier this week on Lillypad, I told you why I’m passionate about getting involved in the public policies that impact healthcare in this country. My goal is to help people recognize how important health issues are affected by policy decisions made in D.C. and in state capitals around the nation–and to empower them to engage...Continue reading
Sharing Voices in Health Care Policy: LillyPad
Public policy is more than acronyms or rhetoric. Public policy shapes the direction of our country, specifically our health system. Decisions made on Capitol Hill directly impact individuals and the pharmaceutical industry alike. That’s why in 2010, my colleagues and I at Eli Lilly and Company launched LillyPad. We’re committed to engaging in a public...Continue reading
Men and Suicide: Much More Than a Mental-Health Issue
Anyone who’s ever looked at suicide statistics knows that men are 3-4 times more likely to kill themselves than women are (women, however, attempt suicide more). But what a lot of people don’t realize is that men in lower socio-economic groups—especially men in their 30s, 40s, and 50s—are significantly more likely to commit suicide than...Continue reading
The end of men in math and science? Could be coming to a college near you.
The Obama Administration just announced their intention to take steps to increase the number of women in college science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors. As the dad of three very smart daughter, I’m all for that. Their stated goal is to expand the use of Title IX, the 1972 law that was designed to...Continue reading
The Business Case for Paying Attention to Men’s Health
Most people know that men live shorter (by five years), less-healthy lives than women. They’re more likely to be the victim of a violent crime, die in a car crash, commit suicide, and be injured at work. Men also have higher death rates from nine of the top ten killers, are more likely to be...Continue reading
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force: Men Not Smart Enough To Make Own Healthcare Decisions
In what may go down as one of the most controversial—and most damaging—pieces of healthcare policy in decades, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force just issued a recommendation that men should no longer get routine screenings for prostate cancer. They believe that the test—called PSA, for the prostate-specific antigen it measures—does more harm than good....Continue reading
Warren Buffett’s choice to opt for PSA testing was a wise one
In 2008, the United States Preventive Services Task Force recommended that over 75 skip the routine PSA tests that have been an important diagnostic tool for decades. The reason for this recommendation? In older men, PSA scores can be high as a result of simply getting older or having an enlarged prostate. In addition, the Task...Continue reading