Author

Liz Szabo

Liz Szabo is a senior correspondent and enterprise reporter focusing on acute care and end-of-life issues. She has an extensive background in medical reporting, including 12 years as a health writer at USA TODAY. Her work won the Victor Cohn Prize for Excellence in Medical Science Reporting. Her investigation of dangerous doctors, won two National Press Club awards and led Virginia lawmakers to toughen state laws for disciplining physicians.

Health

Coronavirus Deranges the Immune System in Complex and Deadly Ways

Liz Szabo Mar 5, 2021

In some covid patients, this education may be cut short. Scientists say unprepared immune cells appear to be responding to the coronavirus with a devastating release of chemicals, inflicting damage that may endure long after the threat has…

Health

Anti-Vaccine Activists Peddle Theories That Covid Shots Are Deadly, Undermining Vaccination

Liz Szabo Jan 25, 2021

Anti-vaccine activists holds anti-vaccination signs at a rally. Anti-vaccination groups have been exploiting the deaths of those who happen to fall ill after receiving a covid vaccine, undermining nationwide vaccination efforts. Photo…

Health

Five Reasons to Wear a Mask Even After You’re Vaccinated

Liz Szabo Jan 16, 2021

Although covid vaccines are highly effective, some plan to continue wearing their mask Health experts say there are good reasons to follow this example. File photo, credit: ShutterStock.com, licensed. PHILADELPHIA, PA – As an…

Health

‘Breakthrough Finding’ Reveals Why Certain COVID Patients Die

Liz Szabo Nov 13, 2020

Advancing age and underlying medical problems explain only part of the phenomenon, said Ranney, who has seen patients of similar age, background and health status follow wildly different trajectories. Photo credit ShutterStock.com,…

Health

Scientists Warn Americans Are Expecting Too Much From a Vaccine

Liz Szabo Oct 28, 2020

Researchers debated how rigorously to test COVID-19 vaccines at a Thursday public meeting of the Food and Drug Administration advisory committee on vaccines. “Simply preventing mild cases is not enough and may not justify the risks…

Health

Signs of An ‘October Vaccine Surprise’ Alarm Career Scientists

Liz Szabo Sep 22, 2020

If the executive branch were to overrule the FDA’s scientific judgment, a COVID-19 vaccine of limited efficacy and, worse, unknown side effects could be rushed to market. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. WASHINGTON, D.C. - President…

Health

Fauci Says COVID Vaccine Trials Could End Early If Results Are Overwhelming

Liz Szabo Sep 2, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease official, said in an interview Tuesday with Kaiser Health News, that a COVID-19 vaccine could be available earlier than expected if ongoing clinical trials produce overwhelmingly…

Health

Health Officials Worry Nation’s Not Ready for COVID-19 Vaccine

Liz Szabo Sep 2, 2020

Pharmacists used vials to prepare syringes during the first stage of a safety study clinical trial for a potential COVID-19 vaccine in Seattle in March. Millions of Americans are counting on a COVID-19 vaccine to curb the global pandemic…

Health

Police Using Rubber Bullets On Protesters; Can Kill, Blind Or Maim For Life

Liz Szabo Jun 3, 2020

Black Lives Matter Demonstrators clash with law enforcement during demonstrations along Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC. Police officers in riot gear allegedly shoot rubber bullets at demonstrators outside the White House during a…

Health

Anti-Vaccine Activists Latch Onto Coronavirus To Bolster Their Movement

Liz Szabo Apr 24, 2020

Vaccine critics suffered serious setbacks in the past year, as states strengthened immunization laws in response to measles outbreaks sparked by vaccine refusers. Photo credit Shutterstock licensed. HOUSTON, TX…

Health

COVID Risks: How Race, Income, ZIP Code Influence Who Lives Or Dies

Liz Szabo Apr 23, 2020

MISSISSIPPI – It started with a headache in late March. Then came the body aches. At first, Shalondra Rollins’ doctor thought it was the flu. By April 7, three days after she was finally diagnosed with COVID-19, the 38-year-old…

Health

Her Genetic Test Revealed A Microscopic Problem – And A Jumbo Price Tag

Liz Szabo Mar 31, 2020

Michelle Kuppersmith underwent a type of genetic testing known as molecular profiling. To her surprise, her biopsy was sent to an out-of-network lab, resulting in a $2,400 charge. Photo credit: Shelby Knowles with Kaiser Health News. …

Health

Trump Administration Clears Way to Use More Than 5,000 Outpatient Surgery Centers As Makeshift…

Liz Szabo Mar 30, 2020

Hospitals and health systems overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients will be able to transfer people with other medical needs to the nation’s 5,000 outpatient surgery centers, about half of which are affiliated with hospitals. Photo credit:…

Health

The Nation’s 5,000 Outpatient Surgery Centers Could Help With The COVID-19 Overflow

Liz Szabo Mar 28, 2020

Many of the country’s more than 5,000 outpatient surgery centers have closed or sharply cut back on the number of elective procedures they perform, to comply with requests from government agencies and professional societies.…

Health

Shortfall Of Comfort Care Signals Undue Suffering For Coronavirus Patients

Liz Szabo Mar 26, 2020

Although the potential shortages of mechanical ventilators and intensive care beds have made headlines, Hofstede fears a surge of COVID-19 patients could deprive her mother of something far more basic should she contract the disease:…

Health

As COVID-19 Spreads, Americans Lose Ground Against Other Threats

Liz Szabo Feb 26, 2020

Although life expectancy inched up slightly in 2018, it hasn’t yet regained the lost ground, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. File photo: Pixabay. CALIFORNIA - For much of the 20th century, medical…

Health

Facts Vs. Fears: Five Things To Help Weigh Your Coronavirus Risk

Liz Szabo Feb 14, 2020

Scientists have more questions than answers about important issues surrounding the coronavirus, now officially named COVID-19. Here’s some help in understanding the unknowns and evaluating the risks. Photo: Centers for Disease Control and…

Health

Treatments for Baseball Pitcher Max Scherzer and Other Pros May Mislead Fans About Costly,…

Liz Szabo Aug 6, 2019

Max Scherzer of the Washington Nationals remains on the injured list, with no clear timetable for his return. Scherzer is the latest in a long list of professional athletes to embrace unproven stem cell injections in an attempt to…

Crime

Trump Wants To Take Guns Away From People In Crisis. Will That Work?

Liz Szabo Aug 6, 2019

In his response Monday to mass shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, President Trump called for an expansion of state laws that temporarily prevent someone in crisis from buying or possessing a gun. File photo: C-SPAN. …

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Author

Liz Szabo

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