Former Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin, MD, said he was pushed out of his position because he opposed privatizing veterans’ healthcare. The nominee to replace him, White House physician Ronny Jackson, MD, has been promising Democratic senators that he’s also against privatization of the VA.

Though guidelines dictate a standard set of radiographic projections that should be collected in each case when a child presents to a hospital with suspected physical abuse, an update suggests a more fragmented method of imaging that could ultimately slash time and radiation exposure.

Using optoacoustic (OA) imaging combined with conventional ultrasound (US) can help downgrade benign masses classified as BI-RADS 4A or 4B, according to a new study from Dutch researchers published in Radiology. This, the authors noted, could reduce the number of biopsies negative for cancer.

“Although medical devices provide great benefits to patients, they also present risks,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD. “And we are focusing equal attention on advancing new frameworks for identifying risks and protecting consumers.”

A surgeon based in Klamath Falls, Oregon, is being sued for $7 million after allegedly misdiagnosing a patient’s colon cancer and failing to consult a radiologist, the Herald and News reports.

The wave of megamergers involving health insurers could place the greatest pressure on both not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals, according to a report from Moody’s Investors Service, if these new combinations steer patients away from hospital-owned facilities.

The American College of Physicians (ACP) published a position paper with recommendations for eliminating disparities between male and female physicians in terms of compensation and professional advancement.

Data collection via social media is a topic that’s been getting headlines in recent weeks. New research shows how such information may be vital to public health. Two studies by UCLA researchers have found online search terms and tweets could be used to predict syphilis trends.