Simone Biles is a role model for prioritizing her own mental health over an Olympic medal
Louie VillalobosThe news of Simone Biles announcing she was decided to withdraw from a Toyko Games competition to focus on her mental health was met with the usual mixed bag of reactions. But our columnist offers up that Biles is doing the correct thing for herself and her fans.
Simone Biles is a role model
Simone Biles is helping young people realize that it's OK to take care of themselves. She's teaching them to prioritize their bodies because mental health and physical health are inextricably linked.
Biles has been open about her depression after being sexually abused by team doctor Larry Nassar. She has overcome so much in her young life. Yet those now criticizing her actions exemplify the harsh reality of how stigmatizing issues of mental health are, particularly in the world of athletics.
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FDA sullies reputation in drug approval
In June, the FDA approved Aduhelm (generic name aducanumab), the first new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease in two decades. As bioethicists who work in the areas of Alzheimer’s disease and pharmaceutical policy, we can attest that this decision has generated more controversy than enthusiasm – and for good reasons.
The FDA’s cozy interactions with pharmaceutical company Biogen, and its use of the accelerated approval pathway without consulting its committee of independent advisers, also raises concerns.
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