There is absolutely no excuse for healthcare inadequacies such as these to be allowed to continue as they are in a county that prides itself in its services. We must all do everything possible to promote political will to tackle these shortfalls in service in Otsego County.…
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Maureen Dill
As the result of the massive financial and reputational blows caused by ongoing litigation in recent years concerning Monsanto’s herbicide, Roundup, the German pharmaceutical giant Bayer has merged with Monsanto, the largest producer of genetically-engineered seeds. Bayer has assured that the politically-charged name “Monsanto” will be disappearing, while product names will remain the same.…
A rider may often be used as a weapon of partisan politics by some members of Congress, sometimes called a “wrecking amendment,” as is the case of the border security amendment attached to the Senate bill in question.…
An estimated $2 billion a year was paid by PhRMA (Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturing of America) companies to doctors, fueling an increase in prescriptions, according to a new report published in the “Annals of Internal Medicine.”…
The Partial Observer from Maureen Dill Tick-borne Diseases on the Rise Here According to Cornell University’s “Tick Talk” Community Education Program, tick-borne diseases have become a significant public health issue in New York State, with numerous tick species and diseases currently spreading within the region. This year, a Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Summit was held on September 28 and 29 under the auspices of the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse and the Central New York…
It’s about time. We’ve been trying to sound the alarm for more than four years, when we found it necessary to “educate” our physicians about the threat of tick-borne illnesses. At my sister’s insistence, one doctor at a local hospital investigated the possibility that her ailment might be due to a tick bite—in particular, anaplasmosis. After learning all about it, he contacted her to inform her that she indeed did have anaplasmosis.…
The Partial Observer by Maureen Dill Smart Meters Coming Soon, But Are They Safe? Most homeowners are familiar with the analog meters provided by utility companies, read monthly or bi-monthly by an employee of the company. Smart meters, on the other hand, are two-way communication devices that use technology—radiofrequency waves, a form of electromagnetic radiation energy—to transmit energy consumption data to a central computer at the utility company. According to NYSEG, smart meters will roll out here in our county…
Letter from Maureen Dill Cannabis Tax Revenue Crossroads Solution To borrow a headline from a recent news report, we here in rural Otsego County are indeed “at the crossroads,” with a growing shortfall in emergency medical services across our county and the reported decline in volunteer EMS workers. New York State itself is at the crossroads and state government must be urged to seize the opportunity to apply cannabis tax revenues where they are most needed, as has been done…
LETTER from MAUREEN DILL Why do we treat sick people so poorly? Recently, a friend and former colleague was diagnosed with cancer and subsequently hospitalized on Florida’s West Coast. Her initial surgical procedure was radical and she underwent many rounds of chemotherapy. She reached out to me by phone from her hospital bed two weeks ago to say she was anxious to obtain a second opinion regarding her condition and prognosis. Her physician and “hospitalist” were repeatedly rude and abrupt,…
LETTER from MAUREEN DILL Americans Should Know Where RXs Come From To the Editor: I’m writing to you about my concerns regarding the fact that the majority of our prescription medications (as much as 90 percent, I’ve been told) are manufactured outside of the U.S. – primarily in China and India. Many of us are interested in “sustainability,” and this, I believe, is related to our sustainable future! Having “Googled” this subject, I’ve also read that the welfare of the…