The January 8th issue of the British Medical Journal reports that two thirds of children in a recent study, in European hospitals have received unlicensed drugs. The practice of prescribing drugs that have not been approved for use in children is widespread, European researchers report. There is a considerable concern in both Europe and the United States about the use of “unlicensed or off label drugs in children.”

Several sources in the press are again reporting on the growing resistance of bacteria to prescribed antibiotics. The CDC reported this week that a 63-year-old woman died from an infection of Staphylococcus aureus which was resistant to traditional antibiotics.

Healtheon/WebMD Corp. and HNC Software have announced plans to process workers’ compensation and auto injury claims on the Internet beginning this summer. The hope is that by eliminating the traditional paper-based claims system, the companies estimate that the average cost of processing and paying medical claims could drop from $15 to $2 per bill.