< Back to front page Text size – +

Today's Globe: methane on Mars, 'conscience rule,' children's health insurance vote

E-mail | Print | Comments () Posted by Elizabeth Cooney January 16, 2009 06:44 AM

Facebook
E-mail

Plumes of methane, a gas typically produced on Earth by cow digestion and rice paddies, were reported on Mars by scientists yesterday, again raising the tantalizing possibility that life could dwell beneath the planet's inhospitable surface.

Seven states sued the federal government yesterday over a new rule that expands protections for doctors and other healthcare workers who refuse to participate in abortions and other medical procedures because of religious or moral objections.

A key Senate committee voted yesterday to expand a children's health insurance program to cover an additional 4 million uninsured children. The vote came one day after the House overwhelmingly supported a similar measure.

Facebook
E-mail

« Back to front page

About white coat notes

White Coat Notes covers the latest from the health care industry, hospitals, doctors offices, labs, insurers, and the corridors of government. Chelsea Conaboy previously covered health care for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Write her at cconaboy@boston.com. Follow her on Twitter: @cconaboy.

Daily Dose | More Health&Wellness

health answers

Long-term health consequences to being born prematurely? It's estimated that each year nearly 500,000 babies in the United States are born prematurely, or before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Submit question | More answers