Investigations: Over Half of Nursing Homes Cited for Violations

More than 90 percent of nursing homes were cited for violations of federal health and safety standards last year, says this New York Times story on this federal audit. About 17 percent of nursing homes had deficiencies that caused “actual harm or immediate jeopardy” to patients. Problems included infected bedsores, medication mix-ups, poor nutrition and abuse and neglect of patients.

TAGS: investigations, health

Investigations: 57% of Pharma Trials Go Unpublished

The results of 57 percent of studies on new pharmaceutical drugs aren't published within five years of the drug coming to market, says this Guardian story on a review of 90 drugs approved by U.S. regulators. The researchers say the failure of drug companies to publish the evidence amounts to "scientific misconduct" and "harms the public good" by preventing informed decisions by doctors and patients. Read the complete study in Public Library of Science Medicine here.

TAGS: drugs, pharma, science, investigations

Investigations: $91M Carbon Offset Market Lacks Credibility

The fast-growing market for carbon offsets, now worth $90 million in the U.S. alone, is so opaque and loosely regulated it offers consumers "limited assurance of credibility," says this Wall Street Journal story on a federal audit of the market. The offsets should be approached with caution by legislators regulating companies that use them to comply with greenhouse-gas emissions controls, the audit says. See the Government Accountability Office report here.

TAGS: environment, investigations, carbon, climate change