"I'm ecstatic. It's a blessing that they approved this therapy," said Victoria Gray, the first person in the U.S. to undergo CRISPR gene-editing for sickle cell, of the Food and Drug Administration's decision. Orlando Gili hide caption

Shots
Health News From NPREsther Lau testifies on June 20 before the California Senate Judiciary Committee in support of Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo's bill allowing teens with Medi-Cal coverage to seek therapy without parental approval. Senate of the State of California hide caption
Activists protest the prices of prescription drug outside the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington, D.C., in October 2022. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images hide caption
A counselor, right, navigates a client through the Medicare signup process at the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Broward County in Sunrise, Florida. Medicare open enrollment season ends Dec. 7. Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/TNS via Getty Images hide caption
Stage actress Sarah Bernhardt (1844-1923) reclines in a scene from an unnamed theater production. Hulton Archive/Getty Images hide caption
A fibrous path 'twixt heart and brain may make you swoon
Kate Cox and her husband were expecting their third child when they got a devastating fetal diagnosis last week. She is also having problems threatening her own health. A judge said Thursday she has permission to end her pregnancy. Cox family hide caption
Lina Lyte Plioplyte is an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker. Carrie Lynn Schreck/MSNBC Films hide caption
'Periodical' filmmaker wants to talk about PMS, menopause and the tampon tax
An artistic rendering of deep brain stimulation. Scientists are studying this approach to see if it can treat cognitive impairment that can arise after a traumatic brain injury and other conditions. Andrew Janson / Butson Lab, University of Utah / NIH Image Gallery hide caption
A little electric stimulation in just the right spot may bolster a damaged brain
People of color who have a doctor who looks like them report more satisfaction with their health care. Here, Abel Woldu and Dr. Kelsey Angell participate in the University of Minnesota's white coat ceremony in 2022. Half of that incoming class of doctors-in-training are people of color. Anthony Souffle/Star Tribune via Getty Images hide caption
Black Americans expect to face racism in the doctor's office, survey finds
Karli (left) and Elmo (right) appear in Season 51 of Sesame Street. In separate videos and stories available for free online, Karli, Elmo and supportive adult characters discuss how Karli's mother is in recovery for an unspecified addiction. Sesame Workshop hide caption
Muppets from Sesame Workshop help explain opioid addiction to young children
When Sarah Barak, standing here outside her Seattle home, needed an operation for her injured thumb, her surgeon gave her unsolicited advice to lose weight. People with larger bodies often report that when they go to the doctor, their problems are ignored or written off as an inevitable result of their weight. Megan Farmer/KUOW hide caption
Many dog owners are worried about reports of a mysterious respiratory illness affecting dogs. THEPALMER/Getty Images hide caption
Veterinarians say fears about 'mystery' dog illness may be overblown. Here's why
People gathered at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. in July at a rally held by the Center for Medicare Advocacy. They protested denials and delays in private Medicare Advantage plans. Alex Wong/Getty Images hide caption
Doctors and researchers question the efficacy of many common over-the-counter treatments for colds and flus. Jeff Greenberg/Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images hide caption
Participants walk in support and in memory of those lost, during American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Out of the Darkness Chicagoland Walk at Montrose Harbor on October 21, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images for American Foundation for Suicide Prevention hide caption
School districts across the country will be able to order free COVID-19 tests from the federal government starting in early December. Patrick Sison/AP hide caption
Teresa Cox-Bates and her husband John Bates, along with their kids Eli, Ava and Issac. Teresa says HealthySteps has helped her face her own childhood trauma and be a better parent. Kholood Eid for NPR hide caption
Life expectancy in the U.S. is up in 2022, but it's still lower than before the pandemic. emholk/Getty Images hide caption
U.S. life expectancy starts to recover after sharp pandemic decline
When the Center for Reproductive Rights first announced the lawsuit against Texas in March, there were five patient plaintiffs. Now there are 20. Sarah McCammon/NPR hide caption
Texas abortion case heard before state's highest court, as more women join lawsuit
Palestinians evacuate the area following an Israeli airstrike on the Sousi mosque in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. Images of suffering, violence and death in Gaza and Israel have flooded the news since Oct. 7. MAHMUD HAMS/AFP via Getty Images hide caption
Former first lady Rosalynn Carter attends a rally at the U.S. Capitol in March 2008 when she helped get the mental health parity law enacted. Carter died on Nov. 19 at age 96. Mandel Ngan /AFP via Getty Images hide caption