Side Effects Public Media

U.S. hospitals have seen a record number of cyberattacks over the past few years. Getting hacked can cost a hospital millions of dollars and expose patient data, and even jeopardize patient care.

An Indiana man's family sued a state-owned nursing home for alleged mistreatment. A U.S. Supreme Court decision in the case could determine the right of many Americans to sue government agencies.

Prescribing medical abortions across state lines is now risky for doctors. "We're talking about something that's a protected right in one state and a felony in a sister state," says one legal scholar.

With the new three-digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline set to launch in days, several states have been beset by staffing crunches, dropped or rerouted calls and lack of planning.

Preparations to roll out the 988 mental health crisis hotline are in full swing but call centers are scrambling to hire enough people and some states may not be able to handle the volume.

Home health care workers are among the lowest paid, shifting the burden of long-term care to aging and overstressed family members or assisted living centers, which are often understaffed themselves.

As maternity wards continue to close across the U.S., demand for midwives has grown, especially in rural areas. But hospitals and health care providers have raised concerns about licensing and safety.

If a judge rules a person can't make their own decisions, the next step can be a legal guardianship or conservatorship. Some states allow less restrictive options, but advocates say it's not enough.

The first U.S. omicron case was identified last Wednesday – about a week after its discovery in South Africa. While there are concerns about the variant’s transmissibility, the number of mutations it possesses make it easier to detect than other strains.

If a judge decides someone is not able to make their own decisions, the person can be placed under a court-appointed guardianship, which is also known as a conservatorship. Some states allow less-restrictive alternatives, but it’s unclear how widely they’re used.