The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) announced it could not endorse gender-related surgical interventions for minors and adolescent patients, citing uncertainties about the procedures' long-term effects. This news comes as the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy are underway, and as concerns grow over environmental impacts in the Arctic, including the effects of black carbon from increased shipping traffic. Meanwhile, a Tennessee hospital destroyed by a hurricane is set to be rebuilt in a flood plain, raising concerns about future disaster risks.
Dr. Bob Basu, president of the ASPS, told Fox News Digital that the organization decided to raise caution about the "irreversible nature" of these procedures. "Based on what we see today, we cannot endorse gender-related surgical intervention in minors and adolescent patients, given the uncertainties that we've discovered," Basu said.
In the Arctic, increased marine traffic, spurred by rising global temperatures and the opening of previously frozen routes, is contributing to environmental concerns. According to CBS News, the soot, or black carbon, emitted by ships accelerates ice melt. Several countries are advocating for cleaner fuels in the Arctic to mitigate this impact.
The 2026 Winter Olympics, taking place in Italy, began on February 4 and are scheduled to continue through February 22, with the Paralympics following in March. Viewers in the U.S. need to account for the time difference, which is six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time and nine hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time, according to CBS News. The schedule for Monday, February 9, included sliding sports like skeleton and luge.
In Tennessee, a hospital destroyed by Hurricane Helene is slated for rebuilding in a flood plain, as reported by CBS News. The 10-bed Unicoi County Hospital, which was forced to evacuate patients and staff to the roof during the hurricane, will be rebuilt in a field behind a Walmart. The new location could face several feet of flooding in a smaller storm, raising concerns about the facility's ability to withstand extreme weather.
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