news bites

Unfortunate but true headline: "Penis and testicles removed without consent." (Can't imagine the patient saying, "Yeah, okay, doc, just cut 'em off.")
When urologists removed a patient's cancerous bladder, they believed it was an aggressive tumor that had spread, so they took out a couple of other vital organs while they were at it. The penis turned out not to be cancerous. The inevitable malpractice suit that followed was settled out of court for and undisclosed amount. (Sources: WHIP, Contemporary Urology, in press)
COMMENTARY: Last night my aunt told us about a guy with prostate cancer who went to some special hospital in texas for surgery. The surgery, a success, was performed by a robot. My dad says that there was probably a doc remotely controlling the robot from a hospital in a different city. (FYI: my dad is a biomedical engineer at a Midwest hospital and a prostate cancer survivor.)

The Orthodox Union has granted kosher certification to Triaminic cough syrup, the first over-the-counter medication to earn that distinction. Certified products carry an OU designation (not to be confused with Oklahoma University). The Union, which says it's the world's biggest organization determining what's kosher, expects to approve more over-the-counter products.
Novartis, which changed some flavorings to earn kosher status for Triaminic, says that Maalox is next in line and awaiting its kosher moment. (Source: WHIP)
COMMENTARY: What's it like to be a Kosher kid with a cold?

The world's longest non-stop airline flight is now one that starts in Singapore and ends in Newark (9,788 miles, 18 hours in the air). Special bonus: You can airdrop your list to Santa as you fly over the North Pole. (Source: WHIP)
COMMENTARY: Sign me up, Scotty!