The January-February 1976 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the medical malpractice crisis, exploring its economic roots and the responses from the medical profession. It highlights how rising malpractice insurance costs have led to evasive practices among healthcare providers, particularly in suburban Washington, D.C., where medical entrepreneurs are building new hospitals. The issue critiques the medical community's reluctance to confront systemic issues, emphasizing the shift from solo practices to institutional medicine as a response to economic pressures. Notable articles include discussions on the implications of malpractice insurance on medical practice and the evolving relationship between physicians and patients in a profit-driven healthcare system.
The August 1986 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on women's health issues, particularly the implications of the national malpractice crisis on birth alternatives and the ethical dilemmas surrounding neonatal care for infants with disabilities. Notable articles include a debate between Adrienne Asch and Barbara Katz Rothman on the 'Baby Doe' rulings, which challenge parental rights in medical decision-making for disabled newborns. The issue also highlights the impact of political decisions on maternal and child health, with a critical look at the Reagan administration's proposed cuts to health programs for low-income women and children. The Bulletin emphasizes the intersection of reproductive rights and disability rights, urging a reevaluation of societal attitudes towards medical care and the treatment of disabled infants.