NOVATO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Brayton Purcell LLP announces that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has issued a critical health advisory in response to a dramatic rise in silicosis cases among workers in the crystalline silica artificial stone countertop fabrication industry. Silicosis, an incurable lung disease caused by inhaling crystalline silica dust, is now officially a reportable disease in California, marking a pivotal step in the state’s public health response to this growing crisis.

Silicosis Epidemic Linked to Artificial Stone

Artificial stone, commonly marketed as ‘quartz countertops,’ contains exceptionally high levels of crystalline silica. Workers exposed to dust during cutting, grinding, and polishing are at heightened risk for developing silicosis. The CDPH maintains an Engineered (Artificial) Stone Surveillance Dashboard that clearly demonstrates the impact of this epidemic. Since 2019, confirmed cases have skyrocketed from just 13 to 447 as of December 4, 2025, including 25 deaths and 49 lung transplants. The median age at diagnosis is 46, with a median age of death at just 48, highlighting the devastating impact on relatively young workers.

New Reporting Requirements

As of June 2025, healthcare providers must report suspected or confirmed cases of artificial stone silicosis to local health departments within seven days. This enhanced surveillance aims to improve tracking, connect affected workers to care, and inform statewide intervention efforts. However, underreporting remains a challenge, and actual cases are significantly higher than reported figures.

County-Level Impact

The epidemic is concentrated in several California counties:

• Los Angeles: 236 cases
• Orange: 90 cases
• San Diego: 36 cases
• Contra Costa: 19 cases
• Alameda: 15 cases
• San Bernardino: 13 cases
• Riverside: 10 cases

Prevention and Legislative Action

Despite strict Cal/OSHA regulations—including wet cutting, dust cleanup, and respirators—current controls are insufficient to prevent disease from crystalline silica artificial stone slab countertop fabrication. Peer-reviewed scientific studies indicate there is no safe way for humans to fabricate crystalline silica artificial stone, and experts are calling for a ban on crystalline silica artificial stone slabs. Senate Bill 20, effective January 2026, will require CDPH to report artificial stone silicosis cases to Cal/OSHA for investigation and allow sharing of case information with local health officers for enhanced case management.

Resources and Support

CDPH’s Occupational Health Branch offers educational resources and technical guidance for employers, workers, and healthcare providers. Additional information is available from CDC NIOSH and the American Thoracic Society.

A Call to Action

California’s updated health advisory and surveillance dashboard underscore the urgent need for the banning of crystalline silica artificial stone slabs to protect workers. Manufacturers and suppliers of artificial stone slabs are urged to take immediate action to prevent further tragedy.

About Brayton Purcell LLP

Brayton Purcell LLP is a nationally recognized law firm specializing in toxic exposure and workplace injury cases. With decades of experience, we are committed to securing justice for workers suffering from artificial stone silicosis, mesothelioma, and other occupational diseases. 

Contact: Nolan Lowry

415-399-3107

[email protected]

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SOURCE Brayton Purcell LLP

Packard Children’s continues to set high standards in maternal health and childbirth excellence

PALO ALTO, Calif., Dec. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ – For the fifth consecutive year, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, an integral part of Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, has proudly achieved the prestigious “High Performing” designation for maternity care from  U.S. News & World Report. This distinguished recognition is awarded to fewer than half of the hospitals evaluated across the nation, reserved only for those demonstrating the highest standards in uncomplicated pregnancy care.

This accolade underscores the exceptional services provided by Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s Johnson Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Services, which shines in labor and delivery care for pregnancies. U.S. News evaluates hospitals based on cesarean section rates, rates of early elective delivery, complication rates among newborns, breastfeeding support, and the availability of vaginal births after cesarean.

“This recognition for five years in a row is a testament to the profound dedication and unparalleled expertise of our team, who tirelessly strive to improve outcomes and enhance the well-being of mothers and families within our community,” said Yasser El-Sayed, MD, division chief of maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics at Stanford Medicine and Ford Family Endowed obstetrician-in-chief at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. “This accolade underscores the trust our community places in us, recognizing our ongoing efforts to provide compassionate and innovative care. At Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, we take pride in being a beacon of excellence in maternity services, continuously adapting and growing to meet the needs of our patients.”

The U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals for Maternity rankings assess ratings for maternity and perinatal care, comparing over 800 U.S. hospitals that participated in a 2024 survey. Fewer than half achieved the “High Performing” status. The ranking methodology considers various quality measures, including patient outcomes such as mortality and infection rates, available clinical resources, and adherence to best practices. These rankings serve as an essential resource for parents-to-be, aiding in evaluating key safety measures, services, amenities, and the availability of childbirth classes.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford continues to be ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a Top Children’s Hospital in the Nation and remains unwavering in its mission to deliver outstanding maternity care for expectant mothers and children. This recognition reinforces our steadfast commitment to excellence and the health and well-being of our community.

Media Contact
Elizabeth Valente
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Media/PR Manager
[email protected]
(650) 269-5401

About Stanford Medicine Children’s Health

Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford at its center, is the Bay Area’s largest health care system exclusively dedicated to children and expectant mothers. Our network of care includes more than 65 locations across Northern California and more than 85 locations in the U.S. Western region. Along with Stanford Health Care and the Stanford School of Medicine, we are part of Stanford Medicine, an ecosystem harnessing the potential of biomedicine through collaborative research, education, and clinical care to improve health outcomes around the world. We are a nonprofit organization committed to supporting the community through meaningful outreach programs and services and providing necessary medical care to families, regardless of their ability to pay. Discover more at stanfordchildrens.org.

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SOURCE Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford

BRONX, N.Y., Dec. 8, 2025 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Adults with chronic pain who participated in New York State’s (NYS) Medical Cannabis Program were significantly less likely to require prescription opioids, according to a new study published today in JAMA Internal Medicine and led by researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Health System.

“Chronic pain and opioid addiction are two of the most pressing health challenges in the United States,” said Deepika E. Slawek, M.D., M.S., the study’s lead author, associate professor of medicine at Einstein, and an internal medicine and addiction medicine specialist at Montefiore. “Our findings indicate that medical cannabis, when dispensed through a pharmacist-supervised system, can relieve chronic pain while also meaningfully reducing patients’ reliance on prescription opioids. Supervised use of medical cannabis could be an important tool in combatting the opioid crisis.”

The study involved 204 adults who were prescribed opioids for chronic pain and were newly certified for medical cannabis between September 2018 and July 2023. Participants were tracked for 18 months, with data on both their cannabis and opioid use collected from the New York State Prescription Monitoring Program.

At the beginning of the study, most participants reported high levels of pain and were taking an average daily opioid dose equivalent to 73.3 mg of morphine. Over the 18-month follow-up period, that average daily dose fell to 57 mg, a 22% reduction.

More specifically, those participants who received a 30-day supply of medical cannabis used the equivalent of 3.5 fewer mg of morphine per day than those who received no cannabis during the same month. “Those changes may seem small, but gradual reductions in opioid use are safer and more sustainable for people managing chronic pain than stopping suddenly,” Dr. Slawek noted.

“This research adds to the growing body of evidence supporting a medicalized model of cannabis use, where pharmacists are actively involved in dispensaries and cannabis is treated like other prescription drugs,” said Julia Arnsten, M.D., M.P.H., the study’s senior author, chief of the division of general internal medicine at Montefiore Einstein, and professor of medicine, of epidemiology & population health, and of psychiatry and behavioral sciences. “We hope these findings will lead to new policies encouraging the effective management of chronic pain through the use of regulated substances.”

Other Montefiore Einstein authors were Chenshu Zhang, Ph.D.; Yuval Zolotov, Ph.D.; Joanna L. Starrels, M.D., M.S.; Yuting Deng, Ph.D.; Giovanna Calderon DiFrancesca, B.A.; Jonathan Ross, M.D., M.S.; and Chinazo O. Cunningham, M.D., M.S.

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SOURCE Montefiore Health System