Jared Fink is Legal Reader’s Editor in Chief and pharmacovigilance specialist. He is a graduate of the College of Wooster and has a strong background in scientific research and writing.


For-Profit Universities Sue US Government Over New Regulations

A recent article by Mother Jones titled “Subprime Students: How For-Profit Universities Make a Killing By Exploiting College Dreams” sheds light on the for-profit education racket: “While the for-profit business model has generally served investors well, it has failed students. Retention rates are abysmal and tuitions sky-high. For-profit colleges can be up to twice as


Can Flavanols from Cocoa Help Reverse Age-Related Memory Loss?

Recently, the NIH Director’s blog published an article titled “Could Flavanols Reverse Age-Related Memory Decline?” by  Dr. Francis Collins explaining that flavanols – antioxidant compounds found in cocoa beans – could help diminish and even reverse age-related memory loss. “In a study published in Nature Neuroscience, a research team partially funded by NIH has provided


Republican Gubernatorial Victories Keep Medicaid Expansion in the Waiting Room

As I wrote yesterday, about 5 million Americans cannot afford health insurance under Obamacare, yet do not qualify for Medicaid coverage.  Unfortunately, a number of gubernatorial candidates who oppose medicaid expansion won elections last night. According to Avalere Health, medicaid could be expanded as a result of gubernatorial races in at least six states: Alaska,


Candidates Supporting Tort Reform Prevail in 2014 Midterm Elections

Yesterday, I wrote about four midterm races in which tort reform played a role.  Unfortunately, in each case, the candidate supporting tort reform won the election. Incumbent US Senator and minority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-KY), defeated challenger Alison Grimes with 56% of the vote.  The Republican party now controlling the Senate, Mr. McConnell is set



Crucial Medicaid Expansion Relies on 2014 Midterm Elections

Today, the Huffington Post reported that important expansions of Medicaid hinge on several gubernatorial races across the country.  About 5 million Americans are too poor to afford coverage under the Affordable Care Act, yet do not qualify for Medicaid.  Huffington Post asserts that this gap is due to actions by the Supreme Court and Republican


Tort Reform and the 2014 Midterm Elections

In the 2014 midterm elections, campaign issues have ranged from immigration to healthcare, and from the military to education.  Though it remained largely on the sidelines, tort reform remained a central issue for some candidates. Here, we will outline the role that tort reform has played in a few races this election cycle. First, the


Center for American Progress Highlights Pitfalls of Tort Reform

A few weeks ago, the Center for American Progress published a short video detailing the deleterious effects tort reform has on public safety in Texas.  Here’s what they had to say about their video: “A new video from Legal Progress, the legal policy program at the Center for American Progress, documents the damaging effects of


Congress seeks explanation for generic drug price spike

Last month, members of the US Congress sent letters to 14 generic drug manufacturers, demanding explanation for the recent, dramatic spike in the price of some 20 generic drugs.  The Generic Pharmaceutical Association, a trade group representing the generic pharmaceutical industry, blames the increase on simple market forces, but many are suspicious of that response.


More Bogus Arguments by Proponents of Tort Reform

After several states passed tort reform legislation in 2004, the Economic Policy Institute published a report titled “The frivolous case for tort law change: Opponents of the legal system exaggerate its costs, ignore its benefits,” that revealed a number of important flaws in the argument for the necessity for and benefit from tort reform. Many