The Top 5: Sickle cell sterilization, pandemic closure absenteeism, EVs, steriods, at-home testing,
Welcome to the latest edition of the Top 5 articles we’ve read this week. Each week, we read dozens of articles in the hope we find essays and reporting that speak to big ideas, trends, future looks, and incredible human stories. We hope you enjoy our list, and do always let us know if you have a suggestion or a recommendation!
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The Top 5 articles for your week:
“Coercive Care” (STAT)
Because STAT investigated the care received by sickle cell disease patients, who are majority Black, and how patients are being forced into ethically grey situations, consenting to procedures without much education or information provided.
People with sickle cell disease tell a different story. Some describe OB-GYNs pushing them to get sterilized when they aren’t sure that’s what they want, and are still considering having more kids. Some say they would not have agreed to tubal ligations or other procedures if they’d received more accurate information. Others felt their doctors steered them toward these surgeries without offering or explaining less invasive alternatives. It’s hard to know how often this happens, but of the 50 women with sickle cell interviewed for this series, seven reported being sterilized with questionable consent — and physicians say they’ve directly heard about dozens of other instances. The pattern extends across at least seven states, surgeries taking place at the hands of different OB-GYNs, who often frame it as a way of keeping mothers safe. Some occurred decades ago. Others were as recent as 2017 and 2022.
“Why Children Are Missing More School Now” (NYT)
Because David Wallace-Wells argues the idea that absenteeism is on the rise in US schools solely because of COVID pandemic closures only tells part of the story — and there are studies to suggest it’s multi-causal, even when comparing to other countries.
If the best estimates of the effect of school closings suggest it explains only about one-fifth of the variation in absenteeism, what about the other four-fifths? Prepandemic patterns of absenteeism seem to be playing a role, as do rates of poverty and local educational attainment. Researchers tend to cite a bundle of other factors as well, including logistical disruptions, both on the family side and the school side, and mental health issues, including increased rates of anxiety and what’s been called “emotionally based school avoidance.”
“Doctors couldn’t help. They turned to a shadow system of DIY medical tests.” (Washington Post)
Because Elizabeth Dwoskin, Daniel Gilbert, and Tatum hunter investigate a new movement in the medical field around at-home testing.
A new world of DIY testing is changing the relationship between physicians and patients, allowing people…to bypass the doctors office and take medical tests on their own. Buoyed by a growing network of independent labs, Silicon Valley start-ups now offer tests for a battery of conditions including menopause, food sensitivity, thyroid function, testosterone levels, ADHD and sexually-transmitted diseases. The growth is fueled by a growing distrust of Big Medicine and confidence in home-testing borne from the Covid pandemic.
“Why Is Everyone on Steroids Now?” (GQ Magazine)
Because Rosecrans Baldwin looks at the rise of steroid-use. (n.b. this article contains mature content)
This is an age, we are told, when anyone can have any body they want. Take a pill, stab a shot, try a “cycle.” It’s the age of Ozempic. The age of ordering a latte with a splash of collagen. Body optimization, body modification, whatever you want to call it, is no longer something that other people are doing, but rather something maybe you should be doing. Have you spent any time on social media lately? Have you felt: I’m getting left behind?
“EVs Could Last Nearly Forever—If Car Companies Let Them” (The Atlantic)
Because Matteo Wong examines how good and reliable electric vehicle tech is becoming, and how the auto industry will change to accomodate.
The entire auto industry could follow an adoption-and-replacement cycle a lot like that of the iPhone: It used to be common to buy a new iPhone every couple of years for a faster processor, better camera, and larger screen. Now the iPhone 15 isn’t that different from the iPhone 11. But people do, of course, constantly buy new phones from Apple. The old ones are expensive or difficult to repair and, with every software update, seem to slow down just a bit more until the devices are no longer eligible for updates at all.
ICYMI on The Morning Five podcast:
The Morning Five: June 3, 2024
The Morning Five: June 4, 2024
Michael has a new podcast? I want him tested for steroids and checked for sticky stuff!