The size and rate of malpractice suits against United States physicians has long been the subject of controversy; the issue has played a strong role in the political debates over health care reform and the continuing rise of insurance costs.
U.S. highways swarm with vehicles of every size, from 1,800-pound economy cars to tractor-trailers that can reach 80,000 pounds. Until recently, passenger vehicles had been becoming increasingly heavy — between 1980 and 2006, average curb weight rose 26%.
Upton Sinclair’s 1906 novel The Jungle described unhygienic practices that were common across the U.S. meat industry. The public outcry following its publication spurred some of the nation’s first food safety legislation. More than a century later, the United States has made considerable progress on food safety, but foodborne illness remains a serious public health problem.
