What We’re Reading: Florida Ban on Gender-Affirming Care Blocked; Definition for Long COVID; NIH Pilot Fails to Diversify Cancer Research

Federal Judge Declares Florida's Gender-Affirming Care Restrictions Unconstitutional

A federal judge has ruled that Florida's new restrictions on gender-affirming treatments for minors are unconstitutional, asserting that the legislation promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis and other Republican lawmakers discriminates against transgender individuals, according to Politico. The decision marks a significant victory for human rights groups who argued that the ban violated equal protection rights. However, Florida plans to appeal the ruling, maintaining that the restrictions are necessary for protecting children from irreversible harm.

NASEM Release Consensus Definition for Long COVID

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) have published a new consensus definition for long COVID, addressing the need for a unified diagnosis framework, according to CIDRAP. The definition describes long COVID as a chronic condition associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection that persists for at least 3 months and affects 1 or more organ systems. This standardization aims to enhance research, diagnosis, and care for the millions affected by long COVID.

NCI's Pilot Program Fails to Increase Diversity

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) piloted a program to cover travel expenses for patients with cancer and their caregivers to attend clinical trial screenings, aiming to attract a more diverse group of volunteers, according to Stat. Despite this effort, the program was discontinued after a year due to high costs and no significant increase in participant diversity. The initiative coincided with budget cuts, highlighting the challenges of enrolling diverse populations in clinical research.