Washington courts rarely discipline guardians ad litem accused of misconduct in custody cases
Minimal oversight of court investigators makes it difficult for parents to challenge flawed reports without risking damage to their cases
Public Health
Birth workers lay out opportunities to narrow Oregon maternal health care gaps
Advocates say boosting insurance pay would help expand programs for vulnerable pregnant people
Despite laws against it, some cosmetic surgeons are still banning negative reviews
If patients can’t say anything nice, some doctor paperwork mandates, they can’t say anything at all
Allegations against Washington gender-affirming surgeon stir fears of backlash for trans patients
Former employees and patients describe ethical lapses, shoddy records and worse at cosmetic surgery clinic — raising concerns about oversight in the booming industry
Oregon promised better access to doulas and lactation care. Birth workers say they still can’t get paid
A new law is aimed at supporting doula and lactation workers, but many say the success of those reforms depends on whether the state can fix persistent payment problems
Pregnant Oregonians need more addiction and mental health support — but the state’s network is fragile
Substance use and mental health disorders are driving more maternal deaths in Oregon than any other cause
Oregon abandons Medicaid expansion for people leaving prison, months after delaying launch
State officials cited onerous work to implement federal Medicaid eligibility changes and other shifting policies
A rural Oregon town lost its maternity ward. As Trump’s Medicaid cuts loom, other hospitals may be next
Most Oregon hospitals have been bleeding cash for years, and at least two are already set to close their obstetrics units
An Oregon wood treater kept polluting a town’s water source with a now-banned chemical — but regulators didn’t stop it
Nearby tribe calls on state, federal agencies to end a “decade-long pattern of reckless violations”
Some Washington judges aren’t ordering accused abusers to surrender guns. A new court ruling could change that.
Advocates hope a Court of Appeals decision will resolve constitutional concerns about a firearm surrender law