Nicole Knight
Nicole Knight
Nicole Knight is a freelance writer based in Southern California. A former reporter for the Orange County Register, she most recently covered issues related to women's health and economic justice for the nonprofit site Rewire.News. Her bylines have appeared in outlets ranging from Pacific Standard to Parents.com, reflecting her varied interests. She is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and the American Society of Journalists and Authors. Follow her on Twitter @nicolekshine.
Latest MedTruth Work by Nicole Knight
NSAIDs Can Increase Risk of Pregnancy Co...
Nicole Knight · October 28, 2020
A new warning for pregnant people will appear on prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs.
FDA RegulationMore Recalls Issued for Diabetes Drug Me...
Nicole Knight · October 15, 2020
The FDA has announced two additional voluntary recalls of extended-release metformin.
FDA RegulationMedical Device Removal Surgeries Delayed...
Nicole Knight · March 26, 2020
Patients who have been implanted with medical devices face uncertainty over when they can have an unwanted device removed or receive treatment for device-related complications.
News-
NSAIDs Can Increase Risk of Pregnancy Co...
Nicole Knight · October 28, 2020
A new warning for pregnant people will appear on prescription and over-the-counter NSAIDs.
FDA Regulation -
More Recalls Issued for Diabetes Drug Me...
Nicole Knight · October 15, 2020
The FDA has announced two additional voluntary recalls of extended-release metformin.
FDA Regulation -
Medical Device Removal Surgeries Delayed...
Nicole Knight · March 26, 2020
Patients who have been implanted with medical devices face uncertainty over when they can have an unwanted device removed or receive treatment for device-related complications.
News
Hundreds of Cases Against Zofran Manufacturer Still Pending
Nicole Knight · March 13, 2020
More than 500 cases are pending against GlaxoSmithKline, claiming the drugmaker aggressively marketed Zofran to pregnant women without informing them of the potential risk of birth defects.
Legal DevelopmentsFDA's New Policy Loosens Medical Device Approval Process
Nicole Knight · February 18, 2020
The FDA has exempted more than 200 types of medical devices and testing products from safety and effectiveness reviews after a new policy went into effect Dec. 30.
FDA RegulationWhat the New E-Cig Ban Got Wrong on Youth Vaping
Nicole Knight · February 13, 2020
New federal limits prohibit the sale of mint, fruit and candy-like flavors in refillable e-cigarettes, but loopholes leave wiggle room for marketing targeted at a younger demographic.
Laws + CongressFDA Final Rule Requires Medical Device Submissions in Electronic Format
Nicole Knight · January 21, 2020
As of Jan. 15, 2020, the FDA requires electronic submission of medical device premarket applications in efforts to increase approval transparency and cut down on paperwork.
FDA RegulationDoctor and Accomplice Charged in Transvaginal Mesh Surgery Scheme
Nicole Knight · November 14, 2019
A doctor and his consultant face multiple charges after tricking transvaginal mesh patients into getting unnecessary surgery.
Legal DevelopmentsHow Patients Lose Power Without Medical Device IDs
Nicole Knight · January 6, 2020
Medical device IDs aren't always given to the consumer even though they could be the only thing standing between a patient and the truth about their device implant.
Health FeaturesGet our reporting in your inbox
Ethylene Oxide and Concerns With Medical Device Sterilization
Nicole Knight · January 6, 2020
Ethylene oxide, a gas used to sterilize more than half of medical devices in the U.S., can cause cancer. As agencies begin to regulate the gas, hospitals may face potential medical device shortages due to the lack of an acceptable sterilization alternative.
FDA RegulationICIJ Report Shows More Women Injured by Medical Devices
Nicole Knight · December 12, 2019
An ICIJ analysis of the MAUDE database found more women filed medical device-related injury reports than men.
Research + FindingsWomen Sue Allergan for Concealing Breast Implant Cancer Risk
Nicole Knight · December 6, 2019
Six women have filed a complaint alleging the manufacturer Allergan intentionally hid possible breast implant safety risks.
Legal DevelopmentsCalifornia Wildfires Spark Legal and Political Battles for PG&E
Nicole Knight · December 5, 2019
PG&E, the power provider implicated in the recent California wildfires, now faces legal action by the state.
Legal DevelopmentsIs Your Doctor Under the Influence of Industry Money?
Nicole Knight · December 4, 2019
Dollars for Docs, a free ProPublica database, allows patients to find out whether their healthcare provider has taken payments from drugmakers or device makers — including money for meals, gifts, travel, consulting, research activities and speaking fees.
Health FeaturesWhen Home is Deadly: Welcome to "Cancer Alley"
Nicole Knight · December 4, 2019
A ProPublica investigation covers an area along the Mississippi River, dubbed Louisiana's cancer alley, which leaves residents exposed to toxic, carcinogenic chemicals caused by unregulated air pollution.
Health FeaturesStudies, Regulatory Updates on Flavored E-Cigarettes
Nicole Knight · October 24, 2019
A surge in teen vaping is causing lawmakers to push the FDA to ban flavored e-cigarettes. Teens who use flavored e-cigs are more likely to start using tobacco, according to recent research.
FDA RegulationStudies Examine If Household Chemicals Can Cause Diabetes
Nicole Knight · October 16, 2019
Household chemicals such as phthalates and BPA, which are found in plastics packaging, cosmetics, medications and other consumer goods, have been linked to diabetes.
Research + FindingsInternal Emails in Monsanto History Spark Questions of Ethics and Safety
Nicole Knight · October 16, 2019
Monsanto has been under scrutiny in recent years for the health risks of primary herbicide in Roundup, glyphosate. For years, the company paid their team of researchers and scientists to promote the safety of the product, but recent internal emails have revealed such an assertion cannot be made about the chemical.
News18 Confirmed Deaths, More Than 1,000 Sick With Vape-Related Injuries
Nicole Knight · October 10, 2019
After the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received reports of the 18th confirmed death related to vaping, they demand advertising data from six major manufacturers of vaping and e-cigarette products. Multiple states have officially called bans on the sale of e-cigarette and vaping products, while the Trump Administration deliberates over whether to take national action. One thing is clear: the specific health risks of vaping remain a worrisome mystery.
NewsThe EPA Will Not Ban a Pesticide That Can Harm Kids’ Brains
Nicole Knight · August 28, 2019
The EPA has decided not to ban the pesticide chlorpyrifos despite evidence that the chemical harms children's brains. It is relevant to note that Dow Chemical, manufacturer of the chemical, donated significantly to the Trump administration's inaugural events.
Legal DevelopmentsCanada Removes Transvaginal Mesh From Market, Still Available for Some
Nicole Knight · August 9, 2019
Health Canada announced the removal of transvaginal mesh from the market following a safety review. However, transvaginal mesh will still be available for women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in some cases.
NewsHealer Crowdfunds Explant Surgery for Breast Implant Illness
Nicole Knight · July 25, 2019
While more information on breast implant illness (BII) is sought by the FDA, some patients suffering from BII symptoms crowdfund explant surgery through platforms like GoFundMe. Miami-based healer Daniela Sage was among them, utilizing the power of social media to remove toxic implants.
Patient StoriesLawmakers Consider Prohibiting Roundup in Australia
Nicole Knight · July 17, 2019
Following the country's first ever cancer lawsuit against Roundup-manufacturer Monsanto, Australia faces public outcry against the weedkiller. Worker protests with walkouts have the government reconsidering their tolerance and use of Monsanto's Roundup in Australia.
NewsAntibiotic Resistance, Citrus Farmers and EPA-Approved Health Hazards
Nicole Knight · July 4, 2019
Since its discovery in 1943, doctors have relied on the antibiotic streptomycin to treat tuberculosis and deadly bacterial infections around the globe. Following EPA approval of the antibiotic use by citrus farmers, advocates raise concerns surrounding disease outbreak and antibiotic resistance.
NewsFewer Women Included in Clinical Trials, Leading to Disparity
Nicole Knight · June 14, 2019
Science shows the immune systems of men and women respond differently to disease. However, women remain underrepresented in medical research for vaccines, routine drugs and life-saving medications.
NewsHHR: A Rights-Based Approach to the Opioid Epidemic in the United States
Nicole Knight · March 8, 2019
The opioid epidemic in the United States has claimed the lives of over 400,000 people between 1999 and 2017. One report argues that the nation can no longer view the epidemic as a criminal justice issue, and instead, must treat it as the health crisis it is.
Health FeaturesBiologist Testified on Talc in Dying Woman's Lungs in California Trial
Nicole Knight · March 4, 2019
A biologist testified that asbestos in talcum powder was found in a dying woman's lungs, according to a recent California jury trial.
Legal DevelopmentsImplant Files: A Hard Look at Medical Devices in America
Nicole Knight · February 20, 2019
The Implant Files, the product of a massive, nearly year-long investigation, have exposed glaring failures in medical device safety and governmental regulations intended to protect patients around the globe.
NewsCalifornia Fires: Air Quality, Pollution, Toxic Devastation
Nicole Knight · December 5, 2018
A new government analysis of California’s 2018 wildfire season suggests the fires spewed carbon dioxide into the air, along with other pollutants dangerous to long-term health.
NewsGuardians Act Would Require Doctors to File Adverse Event Reports
Nicole Knight · June 4, 2019
A new bill was introduced in the House of Representatives, inspired by Dr. Amy Reed whose cancer was spread by a medical device called a power morcellator. The Medical Device Guardians Act would require doctors to report unsafe devices to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Legal DevelopmentsJ&J Marketed Baby Powder to Women of Color, Report Shows
Nicole Knight · May 1, 2019
An in-depth probe by Reuters revealed Johnson & Johnson intentionally marketed the flagship Baby Powder product to women of color, despite knowing its talcum powder came with a potential risk of ovarian cancer.
Women's HealthMonsanto Held Liable for Cereal Farmer's Sickness in France
Nicole Knight · April 30, 2019
A French court sided with a cereal farmer who claimed Monsanto’s Lasso weedkiller made him sick, claiming the product’s label inadequately warned him of its risks.
Legal Developments3 Common U.S. Drugs Outlawed in Europe
Nicole Knight · October 24, 2018
The European Medicines Agency strictly regulates medications and consumer products. Americans taking popular drugs, such as Avandia, may not realize there are major differences between FDA and EMA approval.
FDA RegulationWhat Happened in the First Trial Linking Monsanto's Roundup to Lymphoma
Nicole Knight · September 24, 2018
Johnson, who received a favorable $289-million verdict, claimed Monsanto had long known of the cancer risks of glyphosate but failed to warn consumers of the dangers.
Legal DevelopmentsMonsanto Verdict Reduced to $78.5 Million, Chemo Brain May Affect Second Trial
Nicole Knight · November 5, 2018
A California judge has chopped a landmark $289-million jury verdict. The Monsanto Roundup verdict now sits at $78.5 million.
Legal DevelopmentsEssure Birth Control May Result in Unplanned Pregnancy, Birth Injuries
Nicole Knight · October 5, 2018
An unknown number of women who had the permanent birth control implant Essure still became pregnant—in some cases, resulting in miscarriage or birth injuries.
Women's HealthThe Effects of Stress in the U.S.
Nicole Knight · December 4, 2018
Americans feel more stressed out today than in recent history, which can aggravate existing medical conditions.
NewsTrackMy Implants App Brings Transparency to Medical Device Recalls
Nicole Knight · March 28, 2019
An estimated 2,500 device recalls occurred in 2018 alone. As the gap between consumer awareness and reported medical device recalls continues to grow, the TrackMy Implants app helps consumers stay up to date on the dangers of their devices.
MedTechCourt Halts Trump's Contraception Rules Limiting Birth Control Access
Nicole Knight · January 23, 2019
A federal judge in Pennsylvania stepped in to halt a new Trump administration rule that was expected to limit women’s access to birth control nationwide.
NewsDrugstore Pharmacists Refuse to Fill Prescriptions Based on Beliefs
Nicole Knight · November 19, 2018
Civil rights lawyers are drawing attention to discrimination when pharmacists refuse to fill prescriptions for contraception, hormones and other medications.
NewsResearchers Find Higher Risk of Cancer With Textured Breast Implants
Nicole Knight · December 28, 2018
The FDA’s recent report reinforced the link between textured implants and cancer, showing that more women with textured implants are developing ALCL.
Women's HealthResearchers Uncover Roundup in Cereal, But Does It Cause Cancer?
Nicole Knight · October 17, 2018
Researchers uncovered an alarming amount of the weed killer Roundup in cereal, raising food safety concerns about the presence of the cancer-causing chemical glyphosate.
Health FeaturesHow Gender Bias in Health Care Affects Women
Nicole Knight · October 19, 2018
Research is finally revealing how gender bias in health care affects the diagnosis and treatment of women’s chronic pain and other medical issues.
Women's HealthOlder Women Are Overdosing on Opioids At Alarming Rates
Nicole Knight · February 13, 2019
American women are dying of opioid overdoses at a rate nearly five times higher than two decades ago, according to an alarming CDC report.
News