INDIANAPOLIS — The “Sound Medicine” program for June 29 includes segments about tattoo removal, genomic testing, patient advocacy, CIA immunization reversal and more.
Has the U.S. Army’s new regulation on tattoos led to an influx of tattoo removal for military members? According to an ArmyTimes.com story about appearance rules, the newly mandated Army Regulation 670-1 bans all service members from having tattoos that are considered racist, sexist or indecent; having tattoos on their head, face, neck, wrists, hands or fingers; or having more than four tattoos below the elbow or the knee, among other rules. Will Kirby, dermatologist and medical director of Dr. Tattoff tattoo removal clinics, speaks about how more military members are seeking tattoo removal and the process.
What are the pros and cons of genomic testing? Last fall, the FDA ordered 23andMe to stop marketing its personal genomic service. Theresa Rohr-Kirchgraber, M.D., discusses an Annals of Internal Medicine journal opinion piece about the pros and cons of the service, which provided health-related reports for $99, using saliva samples sent in from clients.
How does the Patient Advocate Foundation assist people with health problems? According to Patient Advocate Foundation’s website, it helps patients with issues related to finding care, medical debt and job retention. Erin Moaratty, chief of mission delivery at the organization, shares five common issues clients are helped with.
Why was the CIA using vaccination programs as a front, and why was the policy reversed? The White House recently announced that it has reversed a CIA policy that allowed the use of fake immunization drives as a way to gather intelligence. Eric Meslin, the founding director of the IU Center for Bioethics, speaks about the program and the recent reversal.