Increasing number of people in UK diagnosed with HIV: According to the Public Health Laboratory Service, the number of HIV infections diagnosed in the United Kingdom in 1999 is set to be the highest for any year in the 1990s—2457 reports have already been received—and there has been an increase in the number of heterosexually acquired infections. The report can be accessed at www.phls.co.uk.
UK anti-euthanasia bill is given second reading: The Medical Treatment (Prevention of Euthanasia) Bill (29 January,p 319) has received a second reading in the House of Commons and been referred to a standing committee.
WHO launches commission on economics and health: The World Health Organisation has launched the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health, which will study how concrete health interventions can lead to economic growth and reduce inequity in developing countries. Chaired by Harvard professorDr Jeffrey Sachs, the commission includes several leading economists and economic policymakers.
FDA warns about heartburn drug: The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned that the popular heartburn drug cisapride can cause dangerous irregular heartbeats and even sudden death and should be used only as a last resort in patients with severe gastroesophageal reflux disease when other treatments have failed. Full story in News Extra at www.bmj.com.
Bill proposed to strengthen powers of General Medical Council: The Consumers' Association in Britain is supporting a 10 minute rule bill being put forward by the MP Linda Perham which will give the GMC greater powers to ban dangerous doctors for life.