Time for some quick news updates in advance of my next blog entry. It’s extra special when there is people-friendly news to share in the healthcare arena, even more so when it comes in multiples. These have been highlights of my week so far:

Washington’s Governor to Sign Interpreter Bill into Law on April 1

Physician Payment Sunshine Act become Law as part of Healthcare Reform

Court Rules that Human Genes Cannot Be Patented

It’s quite fitting that the ruling on gene patents came shortly after the release of  Rebecca Skloot’s  book  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, the  true story of how cells secretly acquired some 50 years ago from a vulnerable patient, became the building blocks of a multimillion dollar biomedical industry.  Author Skloot is now on a national speaking tour, and accepting more invitations.  I’m looking forward to hearing her in Seattle in a few weeks