Kristian Foden-Vencil
Oregon Public Broadcasting Reporter-
The American Society of Civil Engineers in Portland on Wednesday unveiled new standards for building in tsunami zones across the five western states.
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A judge in Oregon has allowed 52-year-old Jamie Shupe, a retired Army tank mechanic, to identify as "non-binary" instead of male or female. It's widely believed to be the first such case in the U.S.
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Acupuncture and massage haven't been proven to ease pain better than drugs — and may cost more. But Oregon hopes these sorts of alternatives to pills will reduce the societal costs of opioid abuse.
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Carrying a child for someone unable to become pregnant can be a legal and ethical minefield. In Oregon, lenient laws and strict contracts have made surrogacy a more appealing option for women.
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Medicaid in Oregon now pays for medication to suppress puberty in teens who may want to change their gender. Oregon officials decided the benefits outweigh possible trade-offs of stopping puberty.
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A woman who is suing the University of Oregon for mishandling her rape case could have her own medical records used against her in court. Yes, that's legal.
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The Oregon Health Plan just started covering the cost of reassignment surgery and hormone therapy for transgender people. Oregon joins a handful of states that provide such coverage through Medicaid.
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When patient and doctor don't speak the same language, it's not enough to have an ad hoc interpreter. You need an adult fluent in both languages — who can also cut through medical jargon.
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Drugmakers offer medicines at a bargain price to hospitals that treat large numbers of poor patients. Hospitals sometimes resell the drugs at full price and make hefty profits.
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A Portland hospital is reporting success by bringing gang members together with counselors at just the right moment — immediately after they've been shot.…