* Guns and Doctors: In his proposal to reduce gun violence, President Barack Obama suggested that doctors be permitted to ask patients about firearms. The concept struck a chord in for physicians, who felt it was a public health issue, and for the gun-owners, who felt their privacy should be respected. This story explores thoughts, feelings and opinions on the subject. * Records at Risk: Early last year, a local health system revealed that private information of more than 50,000 patients had been compromised when a computer was stolen out of a contractor’s car. I set out to give my readers a realistic idea of what this could mean to them. Using local examples, this story outlines the range of problems that can occur when a person’s health information getds. * The price to stay open: After years of contentious debate, the Virginia Board of Health last spring approved a suite of regulations for the state’s abortion clinics that are among the strictest in the nation. Pro-choice advocates protested, saying the architectural rules weren’t medically necessary and were intended to close the facilities. Anti-abortion activists said the standards were necessary for safety. I wanted to investigate claims from both sides. I examined the licensing and inspection documents for all clinics in the state and contacted all of them. I also dug into the manual that contained the controversial guidelines, interviewing one of its creators. Through my research, I was able to tell my readers that the standards could contribute to the closure of up to 14 of the state’s 20 clinics, and that an original author of the regulations felt that they were being misused. * Shopping season begins for health care marketplace: The battle over the Affordable Care Act rages on in Washington, but its implications are much more personal for people outside the Beltway. As the health care marketplaces got rolling, I sought individuals who would open up about what would drive their choices when it came to selecting insurance. They talked about the anxiety of living without insurance and their uncertainties about how to find and pay for a good plan.
