I published an opinion article in STAT news!
In the article, I discuss the tax credit for rare disease drug development that the House voted to eliminate as part of the tax bill last Thursday. For me it’s personal, as I have an ultra-rare genetic skin condition called EPP porphyria, which causes painful photosensitivity. Patients with EPP are currently waiting for an effective therapy to be available in America. Please like or share this article to advocate for the orphan drug tax credit and to raise awareness about EPP.
Visit http://rareaction.org/saveorphandrugs/ to take action.
Many of you who know me might be surprised about this diagnosis, since I’ve gone to great lengths to keep it a secret most of my life. Recently, I’ve recognized that this has been a bad strategy, especially since my own physician friends and co-workers could be the ones missing a diagnosis for someone else. Hence, I’m now sharing my story. Feel free to help me spread the word about EPP.
Cutting the orphan drug tax credit would take away my day in the sun
I am not surprised that a man like Donald Trump exists in the world; disrespect for women is no new thing. Trump, nevertheless, is a distinct outlier. His comments to demean women are so frequent, and at times so generalizable, as to succeed in belittling every woman, everywhere. It is one of his most notable skill sets, and he enjoys flaunting it. Although his recorded boasts of sexually assaulting women in 2005 were shockingly inappropriate, few can deny that the words are perfectly in line with his character. As reprehensible as Trump may be, again I am not surprised that a man like him exists in the world. What does surprise me is that you, male church leader – pastor, theologian, missionary, elder, deacon – are supporting him and even advocating for him.
For Christians who are still voting for Trump and not Hillary because of the candidate’s abortion stances, does it matter that Trump’s words and policies are anti-life? Christians believe that every human life is valuable solely because people are made in the image of God. Even if a person truly believed that Trump now has actual convictions about abortion,