Device innovation has potential to improve patient outcomes over time, yet prospective benefits must be considered in light of risks.

Editorial fellow Dr Ariel Wampler describes what few know about material and device regulation, and Dr Adriane Fugh-Berman explains why we should ask more questions about device representatives’ intraoperative roles during implantations.

Many devices in current use were marketed before manufacturers were required to demonstrate safety and effectiveness.

CEA has been increasingly used to inform public and private organizations’ reimbursement decisions, benefit designs, and price negotiations worldwide.

Physicians’ primary responsibility is to promote patients’ well-being, which includes not causing financial harm.

Insurers’ decisions about which services to cover are often based on economic models that are seemingly objective but neglect factors affecting people who are economically disadvantaged.

Modeling how technology assessment fits into cost-effectiveness frameworks can broaden the range of options for improving health equity.

Patients writing daily journal briefs about work-related activities and pain can help clinicians help them.

Pharmaceuticals make symptoms and biological drug targets more visible but can render individual and community suffering less visible.

While men are diagnosed with depression at half the rate of women, they die by suicide 3 to 4 times as frequently.