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	2004 DECEMBER Dec. 29, 2004 Health Experts Warn Death Toll From Disease Could Hit 50,000 As the death toll mounts in South Asia from Sunday's catastrophe, Dr. Nabarro, the head of crisis at the World Health Organization, warned that as many as 50,000 people may die from diseases caused by the tsunamis.

	Dec. 29, 2004 Science Editor Reviews Year's Highlights Science magazine's editor in chief recounts the year's highlights in the science field, from the Mars rovers finding proof that the Red Planet was once drenched, to the discovery of small human remains only thousands of years old.

	Dec. 21, 2004 Painkiller Naproxen May Increase Heart Attack and Stroke Health correspondent Susan Denzter and Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health, join Gwen Ifill for a discussion on new health concerns over the painkiller naproxen.

	Dec. 17, 2004 Celebrex and Increased Risk of Heart Disease Jeffrey Brown talks with health correspondent Susan Dentzer and Dr. John Reveille, director of the Division of Rheumatology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, about the recent warnings regarding the arthritis drug Celebrex and increased risk of heart disease.

	Dec. 6, 2004 Sports World Reacts to Allegations of Widespread Steroid Use Correspondent Jeffrey Brown leads a discussion on Major League Baseball's steroid scandal with Mike Wise of the Washington Post, Chuck Johnson of USA Today and Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle.

	Dec. 1, 2004 U.N. Targets Women, Developing World in AIDS Fight Health correspondent Susan Dentzer talks with Dr. Peter Piot, executive director of UNAIDS, about the impact of AIDS on women.



	NOVEMBER Nov. 29, 2004 Supreme Court Watch Two California patients who use marijuana under the supervision of their doctors are arguing the federal government should not be allowed to overule the state law that permits the use of the drug in their treatment. After a report on the case, a Supreme Court expert discusses Monday's court session.

	Nov. 26, 2004 Health Community Divided Over Prescription Drugs for Children Essayist Anne Taylor Fleming looks at the precarious connection between children and prescription drugs.

	Nov. 24, 2004 Shortage of Flu Vaccine Persists, But No Flu Cases Confirmed Yet Ray Suarez talks with two doctors about the current state of the flu vaccine shortage.

	Nov. 23, 2004 FDA Drug Screening Measures Under Intense Scrutiny Health Correspondent Susan Dentzer reports on the recent scrutiny of the Food and Drug Administration's drug testing procedures. Then, Ray Suarez talks with two doctors about state of the FDA's drug testing policies.

	Nov. 18, 2004 Congress Questions Vioxx, FDA Health correspondent Susan Dentzer gives an update on the congressional hearings over the health risks of the painkiller Vioxx.

	Nov. 17, 2004 Investigation into Painkiller Vioxx Health correspondent Susan Dentzer reports on the investigation surrounding the failure of the arthritis drug, Vioxx.

	Nov. 9, 2004 Coping With War Betty Ann Bowser reports on U.S. soldiers experiencing post traumatic stress disorder after serving in Iraq.

	Nov. 4, 2004 A Plaintiff Suing Merck The following is an extended transcript of Susan Dentzer talking with Lisa Williams and her attorney Tom Kline about their lawsuit against Merck.

	Nov. 3, 2004 Dr. Robert Califf on Vioxx Since Merck voluntarily recalled its pain medication Vioxx, the government has been criticized for not catching the drugs potential side effects during its review. The following is an extended transcript of Dr. Robert Califf, director of Duke's Clinical Research Institute, discussing the situation.



	OCTOBER Oct. 29, 2004 Merck CEO Ray Gilmartin Since Merck voluntarily recalled its pain medication Vioxx, the company has faced a storm of criticism and the government has been criticized for not catching the drugs potential side effects during its review. The following is an extended transcript of Ray Gilmartin, CEO of Merck, discussing the situation with Susan Dentzer.

	Oct. 28, 2004 FDA's Dr. Janet Woodcock The following is an extended transcript of Dr. Janet Woodcock, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Operations, FDA, discussing the situation with Susan Dentzer.

	Oct. 27, 2004 California Places Stem Cell Research Proposition on Ballot A group of California citizens have placed a proposition on the Nov. 2 state ballot that, if passed, would create a state-sponsored stem cell research program.

	Oct. 22, 2004 Medical Liability as a Campaign Issue With Election Day nearing, Kwame Holman looks at the presidential campaign. Then, Margaret Warner examines the big campaign issue of medical liability with Frank Sloan and Philip Howard.

	Oct. 18, 2004 Thompson Assures High-Rick Patients of Flu Vaccine Availibility Margaret Warner updates the latest developments in the flu vaccine shortage.

	Oct. 15, 2004 Osteoporosis Becomes a Growing Health Risk Health Correspondent Susan Dentzer reports on the growing health risk of osteoporosis.

	Oct. 14, 2004 Health Care Debate Weighs Heavily in Presidential Election Susan Dentzer examines the debate over health care in this election season.

	Oct. 14, 2004 Health Care Plays Heavily in Presidential Election President Bush and Senator Kerry tout two very different plans for changing the health care system. Two experts discuss how the issue of health care is playing on the campaign trail.

	Oct. 11, 2004 Stem Cell Research and How It Has Affected the Presidential Campaign Gwen Ifill leads a discussion about the debate over stem cell research with Daniel Perry, president of the Coalition for the Advancement of Medical Research, and Richard Doerflinger, deputy director for pro-life activities for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

	Oct. 11, 2004 Remembering Christopher Reeve "Superman" actor Christopher Reeve, who became paralyzed after a horse-riding accident nine years ago, died Sunday from heart failure. Jeffrey Brown takes a look at the actor-turned-advocate for spinal cord and stem cell research.

	Oct. 8, 2004 Shortage of Flu Vaccine Sparks Concerns Susan Dentzer reports on recent news of a shortage of the flu vaccine that has health officials worried. Then, Ray Suarez speaks with two medical researchers about the questions posed by this vaccine shortage.



	SEPTEMBER Sept. 30, 2004 Childhood Obesity Jeffrey Brown speaks with Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, former Director of the Centers for Disease Control, about a new report on why more kids are overweight.

	Sept. 17, 2004 Patricia Neuman As part of a report on the Medicare debate taking place on the presidentical campaign trail, Health Correspondent Susan Dentzer spoke with Patricia Neuman, a vice president of the Kaiser Family Foundation and Director of the Foundation's Medicare Policy Project.

	Sept. 17, 2004 Colin Roskey Susan Dentzer spoke with Colin Roskey, an informal adviser to the Bush campaign on health care issues. Roskey served as the health policy adviser and counsel to the Senate Finance Committee, where he worked on a small team responsible for Medicare and Medicaid policy development.

	Sept. 17, 2004 Bruce Vladeck Susan Dentzer spoke with Bruce Vladeck, an informal adviser to the Kerry campaign on health care issues. In the mid-1990s, Vladeck was administrator of the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), where he directed the Medicare and Medicaid programs.The following is an extended transcript of their discussion.

	Sept. 17, 2004 Presidential Candidates Trade Jabs Over Medicare Costs The presidential candidates have been trading blows this week over increased costs of Medicare now and in the future. Susan Dentzer explores the issue.

	Sept. 9, 2004 Medical Journals Demand Greater Clinical Research Trial Disclosure A group of prestigious medical journals announced yesterday that they will not report the results of any clinical trial which is not registered in a public database from its beginning. Two experts assess the growing controversy over the disclosure of clinical-trial results.

	Sept. 9, 2004 Candidates Address Trade, Health Care Rather Than CBS Documents President Bush promoted his economic agenda at a rally in Colmar, Pa., today. Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., spoke about health care reform at a rally in Des Moines, Iowa. Kwame Holman reports.

	Sept. 6, 2004 Richard Rodriquez Talks About His Surgery Essayist Richard Rodriguez talks about having surgery and becoming part of another America.



	AUGUST Aug. 31, 2004 Republicans Discuss the President's Plan for Health Care Reform Gwen Ifill speaks with two Republicans about the president's plans to lower health care costs and provide health coverage for the uninsured.

	Aug. 10, 2004 On-going Controversy Over Embryonic Stem Cell Research Three years after President Bush announced the federal government would only support limited research involving the use of embryonic stem cells, the issue remains a divisive political and scientific topic. Susan Dentzer reports on ongoing research and the continuing debate over the president's decision.

	Aug. 9, 2004 Dr. James Thomson As part of a report on the state of embryonic stem cell research three years after President Bush limited federal funding for the effort, Susan Dentzer talked with the University of Wisconsin's Dr. James Thomson, one of the earliest stem cell researchers. The following is an extended transcript of their discussion.

	Aug. 9, 2004 U.S. Rep. Diana Degette As part of a report on the state of embryonic stem cell research three years after President Bush limited federal funding for the effort, Health Correspondent Susan Dentzer talked with Congresswoman Diana DeGette, a Democrat who opposed the president's decision. The following is an extended transcript of their discussion.

	Aug. 9, 2004 Dr. Ron McKay and Dr. Elias Zerhouni As part of a report on the state of embryonic stem cell research three years after President Bush limited federal funding for the effort, Susan Dentzer sat down with Dr. Ron McKay, a senior investigator with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of NIH.

	Aug. 9, 2004 Dr. Jon Odorico As part of a report on the state of embryonic stem cell research three years after President Bush limited federal funding for the effort, Susan Dentzer talked with Dr. Jon Odorico, a transplant specialist and stem cell researcher at the University of Wisconsin. The following is an extended transcript of their discussion.

	Aug. 9, 2004 Dr. Yury Verlinsky As part of a report on the state of embryonic stem cell research three years after President Bush limited federal funding for the effort, Health Correspondent Susan Dentzer talked with Dr. Yuri Verlinsky, director of the Reproductive Genetics Institute. The following is an extended transcript of their discussion.

	Aug. 9, 2004 U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon As part of a report on the state of embryonic stem cell research three years after President Bush limited federal funding for the effort, Susan Dentzer talked with Congressman Dave Weldon, a Republican who opposes the use of embryonic stem cells in research. The following is an extended transcript of their discussion.

	Aug. 9, 2004 Dr. Elias Zerhouni As part of a report on the state of embryonic stem cell research three years after President Bush limited federal funding for the effort, Health Correspondent Susan Dentzer talked with Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the National Institutes of Health. The following is an extended transcript of their discussion.



	JULY July 27, 2004 Ron Reagan, Jr. Calling on People to Support to Stem Cell Research The son of the late President Ronald Reagan spoke at the Democratic National Convention, calling on people to support to stem cell research -- research that may help treat illnesses.

	July 19, 2004 The Global Fight Against AIDS Last week some 15,000 doctors, activists and policy experts met in Bangkok, Thailand to take stock of current efforts to fight AIDS and assess how to best meet the growing need for treatment and prevention programs. Jeffrey Brown speaks with three leading AIDS experts about current efforts to battle the disease.

	July 16, 2004 Wounded Soldiers Susan Dentzer speaks with former Army Chief Warrant Officer John Sims and his doctors about the brain injury he sustained when his helicopter crashed during a flight into Iraq. Sims is one of many U.S. soldiers living with serious brain injuries as a result of accidents or attacks during the war.

	July 16, 2004 Extended Interview: John Sims and His Doctor John Sims talks to Susan Dentzer about his injuries. Susan also talks to Dr. Daniel Slater, who treated Sims at a group residence for people with brain injuries that was Sims' last stop after hospitalization and before returning to his home.

	July 15, 2004 Global Fund Attempts to Close Financial Gap The financial outlook for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria is the focus of attention in Bangkok. Many are looking for the U.S. to increase its donations, while Washington wants other countries to give more.

	July 14, 2004 Adult Stem Cell Research A report on the challenges and potential benefits surrounding the sometimes overlooked area of adult stem cell research and the struggle of scientists around the world to find applications for the new area of study.

	July 13, 2004 Lowering Cholesterol The government released revised guidelines yesterday that suggest millions more Americans should receive more aggressive treatment to lower their cholesterol. Gwen Ifill discusses the new guidelines with Dr. James Cleeman of the National Cholesterol Education program at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

	July 12, 2004 Botswana Battles AIDS with Testing Program Developing nations are closely monitoring efforts in Botswana, the first African country to both routinely offer confidential HIV testing and provide AIDS drugs to all who need them.

	July 12, 2004 Athletes on Trial Gold-medal sprinter Marion Jones has avoided indictment in the BALCO performance-enhancing drug investigation, but she failed in another high-profile trial, the U.S. Olympic qualifying race for the 100-meter dash on Saturday in Sacramento, Calif. Ray Suarez discusses the doping scandal with sports reporter Elliott Almond.

	July 1, 2004 Stress Disorders Plague U.S. Troops Returning From Iraq About one-sixth of troops returning from Iraq showed symptoms of mental health problems but many are not receiving treatment, according to a study published Thursday.



	JUNE June 23, 2004 On the Issues President Bush told congregants at a Baptist church in Philadelphia that he would like to increase the funding to fight HIV/AIDS in America and abroad. Meanwhile, Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., criticized the president's health care policies at a speech in San Francisco. Correspondent Kwame Holman looks at the two campaign speeches.

	June 21, 2004 Supreme Court Watch The Supreme Court ruled that patients do not have the right to sue health insurers or HMOs in state courts and that people may not withhold their identity from police. Correspondent Jeffrey Brown discusses today's decisions with National Law Journal Washington bureau chief Marcia Coyle, who attended the hearings.

	June 16, 2004 The Uninsured One-third of Americans under age 65 did not have health insurance at some point during the past two years, according to a study released today by Families USA. Ray Suarez speaks with Susan Dentzer about the study's findings.

	June 15, 2004 Extended Interview with Dr. Joe Thompson Dr. Joe Thompson, director of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, talks to Susan Dentzer about the state's efforts to fight childhood obesity.

	June 15, 2004 Arkansas Works to Fight Child Obesity The percentage of overweight American children has doubled in the past two decades. To combat this trend, Arkansas became the first state to launch a systematic plan to fight juvenile obesity.

	June 8, 2004 Stealing Minds: Alzheimer's and Reagan As America remembers Ronald Reagan, renewed attention is focused on Alzheimer's. Terence Smith discusses Alzheimer's disease and efforts to treat it with Dr. Ron Petersen, director of Alzheimer's Research at the Mayo Clinic and the first physician to diagnose President Reagan.



	MAY May 28, 2004 Interview with Dr. Larry Diller Assistant clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California at San Francisco Dr. Larry Diller, who practices behavioral developmental pediatrics, discusses his concerns regarding children taking antidepressants.

	May 28, 2004 Christopher Drell Interview Christopher Drell, 24, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder when he was 11 years old. He talked with Susan Dentzer about his struggles to overcome mental illness and treatments that eventually helped him lead a more normal life.

	May 28, 2004 Interview with Dr. Adelaide Robb Dr. Adelaide Robb, medical director of inpatient services in George Washington University's psychiatry department, discusses possible treatments for children who suffer from depression.

	May 28, 2004 Fighting Childhood Depression Susan Dentzer examines the ongoing controversy over how to best treat children suffering from depression.

	May 28, 2004 Adolescent Patients Caught Between Suicide and Anitidepressants Certain antidepressant drugs may actually increase the risk of suicide in adolescent patients, a recent study in the medical journal The Lancet suggests. Susan Dentzer looks at efforts to add an FDA warning label about adolescent suicide to antidepressant medications.

	May 28, 2004 Interview with Dr. Robert Temple Dr. Robert Temple, associate director for medical policy at the Food and Drug Administration, talks to Susan Dentzer about the challenges of assessing how to best treat depression in young people.

	May 25, 2004 Aspirin and Breast Cancer Taking aspirin regularly may help reduce the risk of breast cancer, a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests. Gwen Ifill discusses the implications of this new study with one of its authors Dr. Alfred Neugut, co-director of the Cancer Prevention Center at New York Presbyterian Hospital.

	May 20, 2004 Drugs in Sports Sprinter Kelli White, who won the 100 and 200 meter races at the World Track and Field Championships, was banned from the sport for two years after she admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs. Jeffrey Brown discusses the widening investigation into steroids in sports with experts.

	May 18, 2004 U.S. Moves to Improve Access to Generic AIDS Drugs Overseas The Bush administration has moved to expedite the approval process for generic anti-AIDS drugs so they can be bought at lower prices and provided more efficiently and safely to millions of infected people in Africa and the Caribbean. U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Randall Tobias outlines the plan.

	May 14, 2004 Plan B Rejection Some members of Congress have called for an investigation into whether abortion politics played a role in the recent FDA decision to bar over-the-counter sales of the emergency contraceptive Plan B. Ray Suarez gets two perspectives on the controversial contraceptive from Dr. Susan Crockett and Dr. Tina Raine.

	May 6, 2004 New Medicare Drug Discount Cards for Seniors Senior citizens began sorting through the competing discounts offered by new Medicare drug cards this week. Health correspondent Susan Dentzer looks at the details of some competing discount-card plans.



	APRIL April 23, 2004 Low Carb Craze Despite signs of a dieters' backlash, the low carbohydrate craze is changing the way American consumers eat and shop. Elizabeth Brackett of WTTW-Chicago reports.

	April 5, 2004 Out at the Old Ballgame Opening weekend for Major League Baseball came amid league-led efforts to stamp out the use of steroids. Terence Smith discusses the battle against performance-enhancing drugs with Buster Olney of ESPN magazine.



	MARCH March 29, 2004 Abortion Law Abortion rights activists filed challenges Monday to a new federal law that bans late-term abortions. Judges will hear evidence in three separate trials about the law's constitutionality. Two experts discuss the reasons for the challenges.

	March 23, 2004 Seeing Red Medicare trustees reported that unless major changes are made to the entitlement program, it will face insolvency by 2019, seven years earlier than previously projected. Gwen Ifill discusses the bleak new forecast with former Medicare trustee Marilyn Moon and Dan Crippen, former director of the Congressional Budget Office.

	March 19, 2004 The Politics of Medicare It's been just over three months since President Bush signed the new Medicare law. But in that time, a series of controversies has erupted as Republicans and Democrats seek political advantage in an election year. Susan Dentzer examines the growing furor over the 2003 Medicare bill.

	March 12, 2004 Importing Drugs The federal government has said it is opposed to the importing of cheaper prescription drugs because it cannot guarantee the safety of drugs produced in another country. As the debate over importing prescription drugs into the United States continues, Susan Dentzer, in the second of two reports, examines the safety concerns.

	March 9, 2004 Importing Drugs As the controversy over legalizing drug importation heats up, policy-makers are paying increased attention to the factors that keep Canadian drug prices lower than those in the United States.

	March 9, 2004 Lowering Cholesterol A study released Monday reported that heart disease patients' risk of heart attacks can be diminished by taking the drug Lipitor. Gwen Ifill talks to Dr. Peter Libby, chief of cardiovascular medicine at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, about the new study and what it may mean for the treatment of heart disease.

	March 5, 2004 Unemployment Woes The Labor Department released a report Friday showing that job growth all but stalled in February. The nation's payrolls grew by just 21,000, falling more than 100,000 jobs short of the figure originally anticipated. Economists assess what the latest numbers suggest about the state of the nation's economic health.

	March 1, 2004 Extended Interview Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich discusses his efforts to pressure the Food and Drug Administration to allow his state to buy prescription drugs from Canada.

	March 1, 2004 Extended Interview Tom Brogan helped set up the federal Canadian board that reviews drug prices when he was an official at Canada's health ministry and now consults for private pharmaceutical companies. Brogan talks to Susan Dentzer about the factors that contribute to Canada drug prices being lower than those in the United States.

	March 1, 2004 Mark Mcclellan Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Mark McClellan talks to Susan Dentzer about the risks of buying pharmaceuticals from Canadian Internet pharmacies and the challenges of trying to prevent unsafe drugs from reaching U.S. consumers.

	March 1, 2004 Extended Interview: Hank McKinnell Pfizer CEO Hank McKinnell talks to Susan Dentzer about his concern that legalizing drug importation from Canada could expose U.S. consumers to counterfeit drugs. He also talks about the importance of making sure other countries pay a fair price for pharmaceuticals and stop getting a "free ride on American research."



	FEBRUARY Feb. 17, 2004 Antibiotics & Cancer A study published this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that there may be a link between the use of antibiotics and breast cancer, the second leading cause of death among American women.

	Feb. 16, 2004 Stimulating Science Dr. Elias Zerhouni, director of the N.I.H., is spearheading efforts to speed up the time it takes for laboratory discoveries to be translated into new medical treatments and drugs. Susan Dentzer talks to Zerhouni and other researchers about the proposed changes at the NIH and their implications for medical research.

	Feb. 13, 2004 Drugs and Sports The trainer for the San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds was among the people indicted earlier this week in a federal steroid sting. Spencer Michels looks at the challenges new sophisticated performance-enhancing drugs are presenting in policing the Olympics and professional sports leagues.

	Feb. 12, 2004 Human Cloning Researchers in South Korea on Thursday announced they succeeded in extracting stem cells from a cloned human embryo. Following a background report on the science behind the research, Margaret Warner and guests discuss the medical and ethical implications of this breakthrough.

	Feb. 9, 2004 Big Enough Bounce? As President Bush touts positive economic indicators as part of his successful economic policy and Democrats warn of a jobless recovery, economists discuss the political implications of the state of the U.S. economy.

	Feb. 4, 2004 Poisonous Powder The ricin scare drove senators to the House side of the Capitol as police and Marines continued to quarantine unopened mail in Senate offices. Margaret Warner discusses the most recent developments with Time magazine correspondent Elaine Shannon.

	Feb. 3, 2004 Poisonous Powder Three Senate buildings were closed Tuesday after tests confirmed that powder found in the mail room of the office of the Senate majority leader was the deadly poison, ricin. Julie Fischer of the Henry L. Stimson Center explains its potential threat.

	Feb. 2, 2004 Budget Blueprint President Bush proposed a $2.4 trillion 2005 budget Monday, which includes increases in defense and homeland security spending and budget reductions for the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Protection Agency. Members of Congress debate the budget's potential effect on the federal deficit.



	JANUARY Jan. 29, 2004 Mad Cow The price of American beef plummeted at home and abroad after a slaughtered Washington state Holstein cow was found infected with mad cow disease in December. Tom Bearden reviews the reforms the U.S. Department of Agriculture implemented to ensure meat safety and their effect on the industry.

	Jan. 27, 2004 Bird Flu Outbreak As China reported its first case of the rapidly spreading bird flu Tuesday, Dr. Julie Gerberding, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, discusses the implications of the outbreak on world health.

	Jan. 26, 2004 Salmon Scare Salmon is the most popular fish in the interior of the United States, but many American consumers have become concerned over whether the fish is still safe to eat. Lee Hochberg reports on whether there is any truth to these fish stories.

	Jan. 14, 2004 No Forgetting: Veterans and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Despite aggressive Pentagon effects to make mental health professionals available to soldiers stationed in Iraq, soldiers returning from the war continue to report high rates of post-traumatic stress disorder. Susan Dentzer reports on what the military has learned about dealing with PTSD and what it is doing to help its victims.

	Jan. 14, 2004 Extended Interview: Alfonso Batres Dr. Alfonso Batres, a clinical psychologist and the chief officer for readjustment counseling services at the Department of Veterans Affairs, discusses how the department's support services aim to help those who have served in combat.

	Jan. 8, 2004 Family Planning Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the politics and practice of family planning in the southern African nation of Zambia.

	Jan. 1, 2004 Cracking Down on Doping Twenty-five athlete were called last fall to testify about their ties to a laboratory accused of manufacturing an illegal anabolic steroid never seen before. Spencer Michels looks at this case and the challenges sophisticated performance-enhancing drugs are presenting in policing the Olympics and professional sports leagues.