American Society for Clinical Pathology

Welcome to the ASCP Newsroom. Here you will find the latest newsworthy items on ASCP as well as other related laboratory science and pathology information. Learn quick facts about the organization at the click of a button and see what activities are coming up to advance this important healthcare field. Reporters can contact the ASCP Communications department to speak with ASCP’s media relations manager or set up an interview with a pathologist or laboratory professional.

Our Top Story

ASCP Joins ACLU Lawsuit Opposing Gene Patents
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a lawsuit challenging the legality of patents on human genes—specifically, patents covering the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with breast and ovarian cancer. “ASCP joined this lawsuit because a fundamental tenet of ASCP is that patients come first,” said ASCP President Barbara J. McKenna, MD, FASCP. “Gene patents violate this principle by creating unjustifiable monopolies on human genetic information that is critical in the diagnosis of many diseases.” The New York Times broke the story on May 12 and national news coverage is continuing. more...

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Laboratory News

Teen Diagnoses Self in Science Class
A high school student in Washington state diagnosed her own Crohn's disease while in an advanced placement science class. Since 4th grade, Jessica Terry was living with an indeterminable stomach disorder with symptoms, including severe vomiting and diarrhea, that kept her out of school a number of days. Doctors seemed baffled and couldn’t determine specifically what was wrong with her—until she diagnosed herself while reviewing a sample of her own intestinal tissue by microscope. more...

Workforce Shortage Making National News
The Wall Street Journal reported on the laboratory workforce shortage and its impact on laboratories’ ability to keep up during the swine flu crisis. Meanwhile, US News and World Report highlighted career opportunities in the lab in the story, "A Guide to Confusing (but Promising) Healthcare Jobs."
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Medical technologists wanted
ABC affiliate in Topeka, KS, KTKA-TV reports on the lab workforce shortage: A hospital needs more than just doctors and nurses. Hospitals like Coffey County Hospital are having a tough time finding lab professionals.
more...

ASCP Joins ACLU Lawsuit Opposing Gene Patents
The American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) has joined the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in a lawsuit challenging the legality of patents on human genes—specifically, patents covering the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which are associated with breast and ovarian cancer.
more...

CNN Recognizes “Heroes in Lab Coats”
Noted author and CNN contributor Bob Greene lauds the quiet professionals working in the world’s laboratories. more...

Daniel M. Baer, MD, FASCP
On April 5, 2009, long-time active ASCP member and contributor Daniel M. Baer, MD, FASCP died at home with his wife and his son at his bedside. He had a long and exceptional career. more...

IOM Report on Measures Needed To Reduce Conflicts Of Interest In Medicine
New voluntary and regulatory measures can strengthen protections against financial conflicts of interest in medicine without hindering patient care or the advancement of medical knowledge, says a new report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM).
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Lab Week Videos
As ASCP celebrates Lab Week and continues to work on behalf of its members, we are excited to present a new form of communicating with the world about who laboratory professionals are and what they do. This effort is to not only let our members know how important they are, but to educate those interested in becoming a part of the health care team. more...

Media

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Laboratory professionals and pathologists share news about yourselves, a colleague, or your employer. Contact Us!

Swine Flu - Information and Helpful Links
The ASCP is offering the general public and ASCP members a list of helpful links about human swine influenza. As new information becomes available, the information and guidance for the Swine Influenza outbreak is being updated frequently and posted on the CDC Swine Influenza (Swine Flu) website. more...

Critical Values
ASCP’s new quarterly newsmagazine for members, Critical Values, contains news and feature stories for the entire laboratory team. more...

Washington DC News

ASCP Works With Baucus on Health Care Reform
A major public policy initiative of the Obama Administration is the overhaul of the nation’s health care system. The catalyst to such change will begin with legislative action in Congress; leading that shift is Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, which has oversight over both Medicare and Medicaid. more...

ASCP Advocacy Efforts Focus on Developing the Workforce
Each year, advances in laboratory medicine add significantly to the already lengthy menu of tests available to aid clinicians in their practice of medicine. The emerging field of personalized medicine alone promises to add thousands of new complex assays to the mix. Physicians and their patients rely on access to accurate and timely laboratory results to determine the most effective course for treatment. Having an adequate supply of well-trained laboratory professionals to staff our nation’s clinical laboratories is critical if we are to continue to be able to offer high quality health care to our citizens. more...

ASCP ePolicy News
Read the latest advocacy news from ASCP's Washington DC office. more...

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