News Team member Lydia King analyzes the challenges of language barriers in healthcare, and finds that community-driven initiatives and dedicated medical interpreters are transforming patient outcomes through improved communication and cultural sensitivity.
Today, we recommend a documentary about the opioid epidemic that focuses on the producers of these drugs. FRONTLINE showcases a 53-minute documentary on Insys, a pharmaceutical company that pushed consumers to use their opioid painkiller drug by bribing physicians and committing insurance fraud. In collaboration with Financial Times, the documentary reveals how federal prosecutors managed to put Insys founder John Kapoor in jail, a rare action for pharmaceutical companies that are typically fined without criminal punishment. If you find this interesting, keep an eye out for a piece by News Team member Sarah Du next week that explores this topic further.
If you’d like to learn more about legal action in the opioid epidemic, read The Opioid Epidemic & Drug Policy.