Personal Experience Weighs on Obama in Health Policy Debate

In the weeks before he was elected president, Barack Obama confronted a life crisis all too common in families across America. His grandmother, who already had a diagnosis of terminal cancer, fell and broke her hip, possibly because of a mild stroke. The question became whether to replace her hip even though she was dying. NY Times

Get to Know: The Institute for the Study of Disability & Bioethics

Worldwide, more than 650 million people have a disability. ISDB is a multinational response to medical and cultural trends impacting people with disabilities, upholding the valuable lives of people of all abilities. See also the Disability Matters blog.

Ending a life

Why is it that I can end the suffering of a sweet wonderful dog or cat, and why was it that no one was allowed to end the suffering of my mother who so desperately, and I believe legitimately, wanted nothing more than to end her pain? Why is it that I could not offer my father, finally, the gift of a gentle rest instead of the tortured route his body traveled on? Surely they deserved to be treated as kindly as are my dogs and cats. SFGate Why not? Because there's a fundamental difference between a person and a dog or a cat. Human beings are made in the image of God.

Contents of suicide manual exposed

A training manual for an assisted-suicide group offers exit guides step-by-step instructions on how to show others how to kill themselves. The Georgia-based group's manual was found at the home of an admitted "exit guide" during a police investigation into the death of a Phoenix woman who committed suicide with the group's help. Final Exit has suspended assisted suicides for now. Its last one was mid-February, but the group is still accepting applications. CBS News

Woman Blames Book For Son's Suicide

A book called Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying is being blamed for deaths across the country. A mother said she found the book lying next to her son's body after he committed suicide back in January. He even referenced the book in his suicide letter. The third edition of the book has been banned in several states, and now a group of parents are trying to file a class action lawsuit to ban the book. The author, Derek Humphry, defends his work, saying the book is intended for people who are terminally ill. KCTV, commentary

Learn more about Derek Humphry in Deadly Compassion: The Death of Ann Humphry and the Truth About Euthanasia

Bet on health care rationing

In an aging population, how do you keep Medicare and Medicaid from blowing up the budget? There is only one answer: rationing. Why do you think the stimulus package pours $1.1 billion into medical “comparative effectiveness research”? Once you establish what is best practice for expensive operations, medical tests and aggressive therapies, you’ve laid the premise for funding some and denying others. Boston Herald

New research may help unlock vegetative and minimally conscious patients

Seven years after doctors first defined the minimally conscious state, which is 10 times as prevalent as the more recognized vegetative state, it still lacks an international classification of diseases code from the World Health Organization, making it essentially invisible in modern health care. In 2007, an Institute of Medicine panel identified the need for a study to gather basic data like how many MCS patients there are and where they live, but the institute couldn't raise the funding. These patients are not terminal, but doctors are ill-equipped to decide not only who will recover but to advise families on what the mental life of a person in MCS is like. Reports of dramatic "awakenings" led to the discovery that neuroplasticity—structural growth in brain networks—can continue even 19 years after severe traumatic brain injury. Few living wills contain the possibility of a prolonged period in and out of awareness, and many families are tormented by how long they should wait before withdrawing care, typically done by stopping tube feeds. Slate

Who can know the pain of wanting to die?

By all means argue that assisted suicide is open to abuse. But do not propose to know what it feels like to lie in a bed, staring at the ceiling, being turned by carers as they wash you and change your sheets, longing for the life you had but which now is out of reach. Don't tell me that doesn't hurt. Don't tell me doctors can control that sort of pain. Telegraph

Legalization of assisted suicide would have dangerous consequences

Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy - whatever the person's age. Most people who attempt suicide do not want to die; they want to end the pain they are suffering. Moreover, we should remember that as soon as a second person is consciously involved in the suicide of a person, and that this is accepted by society, it is then society as a whole that gives its consent to this suicide. This would give rise to very dangerous consequences concerning the manner in which the whole of society would consider the value, meaning and worth of a human life. The Herald

Ban Dr. Death from Britain

A twisted trafficker in DIY suicides should be banned from peddling his vile trade in Britain, according to The People news site. Dr. Death Philip Nitschke is to hold four suicide workshops in May spelling out how people can kill themselves. But campaigners - including some who support euthanasia - have joined the call for his sickening seminars to be outlawed. Jo Cartwright, of Dignity in Dying, said: "We want these workshops banned. They are irresponsible." The People

Layla's Legacy - A True Story About the Value of Life

Bethany Christian Services often gets involved in tough pregnancies with hearts and hands of compassion. This story about Layla is sure to encourage experienced champions of life and stoic pro-choice people of the power of love and the value of life. Layla's Story

The Coming Medical Conscription to Require Doctors to be Complicit in Assisted Suicides

The day may be coming, and it might not be that far away, when doctors who are asked to help kill a patient--that is, to intentionally cause the patient's life to end--will be forced to either do the deed or refer to a doctor he or she knows will do the deed. Wesley J. Smith This article is VERY alarming...though I'm afraid to say, not unexpected.

Bioengineering Graft Could Lay Ground for Organ Growth

A roll-your-own blood vessel, grown in the laboratory from a person's own cultured cells, works well in kidney dialysis patients, making it the first complex bioengineered tissue part built without synthetic components. The technique may someday be used to grow internal organs as well, researchers say. NewScientist Health

The Second International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide

The 2nd International Symposium on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide is being held on May 29-30, 2009 at the National Conference Center in Landsdowne, Virginia. Speakers for the Symposium include: Rita Marker, Wesley J. Smith, Diane Coleman, Stephen Drake, Dr. William Toffler, Dr. Bob Orr, Dr. Mark Mostert, Ian Dowbiggin, Randy Richardson, Bobby Schindler, Eileen Geller, Margaret Dore, Elizabeth Wickham, Alison Davis, Dr. Peter Saunders, Colin Harte, Lionel Roosemont, Nancy Valko, and Alex Schadenberg. Euthansia Prevention Coalition

Prescriptions Filled for WA Assisted Suicide

Two prescriptions have been filled for life-ending drugs under Washington's new assisted suicide law, state health officials said Thursday. Health Department spokesman Tim Church said he could not provide any details about the people considering suicide, but the department has received two forms from pharmacists saying they have dispensed the drugs that people say they want to use to end their lives. Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Prof Accuses Hospital of 'Culture of Euthanasia'

A key report has accused a Hampshire hospital of a “culture of involuntary euthanasia on the wards” after questions were raised over the deaths of several patients. A senior doctor, Dr Jane Barton, in charge of the ward known as the ‘end of the line’ where almost 100 patients died at the time, faces a hearing with the General Medical Council later this year. The Christian Institute

Couples Forced Into Abortions or Have Disabled Child as NHS Refuses to Fund Tests

Couples with serious genetic conditions in their family have been forced to face the agonising decision to bring up a disabled child or terminate a pregnancy because the NHS is refusing to pay for testing, experts said. Telegraph.co.uk

Discovering Purpose in Suffering

Sometimes finding God’s purpose in the midst of adversity requires us to make major personal changes over a period of time. At other times, our God-given purpose may be right in front of us. To discover it, we simply need to open our hearts to God’s leading and lift our eyes to opportunities we could easily overlook. FotF's TroubledWith.com

‘Such a Beautiful Passing From This Life’

When Evelyn finally got to look around her apartment and see that she was finally there, she beamed. It was quite clear that she was greatly relieved and delighted to finally be home again. She drifted into a coma that afternoon. That night, it snowed in Missoula. Silently and anonymously, friends, fellow parishioners and an untold number of neighbors came up to Evelyn's door. Without disturbing anyone, they left burning candles on Evelyn's porch, candles that burned brightly in the falling snow. I had the sense that there was a community who wanted to help someone die. Missoula Demonstration Project

Mayo Clinic Backs New Personal Health Record Site

The Mayo Clinic has combined its medical expertise with Microsoft Corp.'s technology in a free Web site launching Tuesday that will let people store personal health and medical information. The Mayo Clinic Health Manager, as the site is called, is one of many emerging services for so-called personal health records. The sites, from companies such as Microsoft and Google Inc. and major health insurers, are meant to give people an easy way to stash medical information and transfer it to a new clinic, hospital or specialist. But those providers aren't necessarily ready for such an electronic revolution, which for now means it takes some work on the patient's part to set up and maintain the records. The Associated Press

Eschew Enhancement: Memory-Boosting Drugs Should Not Be Made Available to the General Public

In an effort to provide Alzheimer's and schizophrenia patients with better, safer medicines, biotech and big pharma have embarked on drug discovery programs targeting multiple cognitive mechanisms. For patients suffering from these diseases, the new drugs have the potential to improve cognitive function over a longer term than available treatments, which fade in effectiveness over time. Yet given the leaky and lucrative electronic trade in prescription drugs, it's likely that these medicines will also be available to healthy people who hope to benefit from them as well. MIT Technology Review

Foolproofing Suicide with Euthanasia Test Kits

When someone with a terminal illness decides to end his or her life by overdosing on barbiturates, they may hope the drugs will lull them into a peaceful and permanent sleep. But if the drugs have passed their expiration date or lack a sufficiently lethal concentration, the would-be suicide victim may actually survive — risking an array of complications including coma, reduced physical functioning and the opprobrium of disapproving friends and family. Now, in an effort to provide certainty to those contemplating suicide, one of the world's leading euthanasia advocates plans to sell barbiturate-testing kits to confirm that deadly drug cocktails are, in fact, deadly. Time Magazine

Who Are You To Say?

Taken at face value, the "Who are you to say?" question challenges one's authority to judge another's conduct. It says, in effect, "What authorizes you to make a rule for others. Are you in charge? Are you the police or the king or something?" This challenge miscasts my position. I don't expect anyone to obey me simply because I say so. I'm appealing to reason, not asserting my authority. Challenging me misses the point. I'm not commanding, but persuading. It's one thing to force beliefs; it's quite another to state those beliefs and appeal for them. Stand To Reason

Brain Death: Can It Be Resuscitated?

Why is a patient with a destroyed brain considered dead rather than moribund and irreversibly comatose? The world has been grappling with this question for the past four decades with little success. The recently released white paper of the President’s Council on Bioethics is in many respects a refreshing, thoughtful, and comprehensive reexamination of this complex topic. The Hastings Center

Emergency Preparedness for Elderly People

Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Take responsibility--Save your life! Keep in touch with your neighbors and look out for each other. National Caregiver's Library

Disaster Supply Kit

A recommended list of supplies to have on hand in the event of an emergency. National Caregiver's Library

Family Disaster Plan

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. Families can and do cope with disasters by preparing in advance and working together as a team. Knowing what to do is your best protection and your responsibility. Therefore, we urge you to develop a Family Disaster Plan. National Caregiver's Library

Disaster Planning

Day-to-day coping is challenging enough – dealing with a disaster as well as Alzheimer’s or other primary caregiving responsibilities can be devastating for everyone. Planning ahead can make all the difference. Your goal as caregivers is to identify potential challenges and take the steps necessary to guard against, and prepare for disasters, in order to reduce the confusion and disruption that can distress and alarm family members requiring caregiving assistance, especially those with Alzheimer’s. National Caregiver's Library

Paramedics Told: 'Let Accident Victims Die if They Want To'' in New Row Over Patient Rights

Health Service paramedics have been told not to resuscitate terminally-ill patients who register on a controversial new database to say they want to die. It has been set up by the ambulance service in London for hundreds of people who have only a few months to live so that they may register their 'death wishes' in advance. UK DNR Registry. As Wesley Smith points out here, the title is missleading. This is speaking of a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) request for terminal patients - which is perfectly ethical and in line with Hospice's standard of care for end-of-life - and not and act to deliberately hasten death (euthanasia/physician-assisted suicide).

British Scientists Tout Future Cure for Blindness with ESCs: What Would You Do If It Really Works?

Although successful treatment hasn't even been tried yet, I think this one is notable because private money (Pfizer) is being put into the development of the treatment--venture capital has been, heretofore, notably scarce in ESCR. Thus, I think it is fair to say that when a very big drug company puts money into a potential therapy, there is at least a decent chance it will work. And that brings up an important question for those who oppose ESCR. What if it works and bending our ethical views could lead to our seeing again, but staying true to our beliefs would mean continuing vision impairment? ESC's Potential for Treating Blindness?

Home Alone: Is Your Loved One OK?

As a caregiver, you may have to decide if it is still possible to leave an elderly person in your care alone for an hour, an afternoon or an entire day. Making this decision can be a complicated and emotionally wrenching experience for you and the senior. For caregivers, it can be heartbreaking to recognize that the strong, self-sufficient adult they have known for years is no longer capable of taking care of themselves. It also means a real loss of freedom and flexibility and may require you to develop creative strategies to accomplish daily errands and tasks. For the senior, it can be equally difficult to acknowledge and accept that physical, emotional or mental changes have reduced their independence. Home Alone

Long Distance Caregiving

Dorothy is a 56-year-old woman living alone in a small house with Bitsy, her German Shepard. She works in a mid-sized office as a paralegal clerk and enjoys going to concerts and art galleries with her friends. Dorothy is an only child, and responsibility for her mother’s care has fallen to her by default. Her father died 10 years ago, and there are no aunts or uncles close by to help. She had just come home from a long day at work, and checked her voice mail messages. Her mother’s neighbor had left a message saying that mother had not picked up her newspaper or her mail for three days. When the neighbor knocked on the door, Dorothy’s mother opened it, appearing confused. The neighbor took Dorothy’s mother home to spend the night at her house. Dorothy’s heart sank, but she quickly called the neighbor and said “Thanks. I’ll make arrangements to come right away.” Long Distance Caregiving

10 Strategies for Long-Distance Caregiving

If your mother lives in Phoenix and you're in New York, how do you help take care of her? Angela Heath, director of the Eldercare Locator Hotline of the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging, has compiled 10 strategies to help you cope. This article is adapted from Heath's book, "Long-Distance Caregiving: A Survival Guide for Far Away Caregivers." Long-Distance Caregiving Strategies

Adult Stem Cell Transplants Help Some Type 1 Diabetics Go Without Insulin

In a small experimental study, type 1 diabetics who received [adult] stem cell transplants were able to forgo taking insulin for up to four years, according to new research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and presented in Washington yesterday. ASC Help Type 1 Diabetics

Adult Stem Cells Jumpstart Bone's Healing Process

Rarely will physicians use the word "miraculous" when discussing patient recoveries. But that's the very phrase orthopaedic physicians and scientists are using in upstate New York to describe their emerging stem cell research that could have a profound impact on the treatment of bone injuries. Results from preliminary work show patients confined to wheelchairs were able to walk or live independently again because their broken bones finally healed. ASC Jumpstart Bone Healing

Physicians Urged to Honor Death With Dignity Act

Washington nonprofit, Compassion and Choices, urges physicians statewide who are willing to participate in the Death with Dignity Act to contact the organization so patients struggling to access the service can be referred. Compassion and Choices of Washington knows only a handful of doctors in the state who will perform the service, and they say there are none in the Mid-Columbia area. C and C Urges Physician Death Referrals in WA

Response from Human Life Alliance: As the new Washington State law that legalized physician assisted suicide took effect early in March, local media continues to push their pro-death agenda. In an attempt to coerce and pressure health care professionals and hospitals to participate in assisted suicide, the Seattle Times is blatantly portraying only the pro-assisted suicide position of the debate. Tell The Seattle Times what you think, by clicking here. Click on "Request a Correction" to submit your concerns or call 206-464-3310.

Killer Drugs Ban on Swiss Suicide Clinic

Switzerland’s highest court has banned the suicide clinic Dignitas from stockpiling lethal drugs used to end the lives of its clients. Dignitas founder, Ludwig Minelli, insisted he needed to keep stocks of the lethal barbiturate in case of an “emergency”, such as patients spilling or vomiting their dose as they committed suicide. Critics claimed that Dignitas merely wanted to avoid the need for clients to consult a doctor. Dignitas Killer Drug Ban

NHS Meltdown: Blow the Whistle on Neglect of Elderly Patients--and You Take the Fall

Our world is so upside-down. A nurse secretly filmed terrible neglect of elderly UK hospital patients--and she is sanctioned for misconduct! Whistle-Blower Elder Neglect From the Original Story

Dead When the Doctor Says You Are

Dead is dead, except when it's not. Deciding when somebody is dead or about to die is quickly emerging as one of the top ethical issues in medicine today as technology makes it increasingly possible to keep people alive who would otherwise have died not so long ago. Dead When Doctors Say So

Six Out of Ten Isn't Bad, Is It?

How a rabbi tricked a classroom of apathetic students into grasping the fallacy of moral relativism. Apathy and Fallacy of Moral Relativism This is brilliant. Use it with your children/students.

Caregiving: How to Care for a Loved One With Cancer -- And Yourself

When someone is diagnosed with cancer, their life changes. But the patient is only one of the people affected by cancer. Life also changes for the person who helps the patient get through this experience -- the primary (main) caregiver. The caregiver becomes a valuable participant in the patient's care. Good, reliable caregiver support is crucial to the physical and emotional well-being of people with cancer. This document will give you some idea of what to expect if you become a caregiver for a person with cancer. It will also offer some suggestions for ways to take care of yourself during this time. Caring for a Love One With Cancer

A Unique Journey

Something about the 15-week-old fetus didn't look right. Not certain what was wrong, the doctor began to run through a list of dire scenarios for the parents. His predictions proved to be correct, so should they have ended the pregnancy early? Read-Only, Print Version (use as a bulletin insert for your church!), Mike and Kristin's Full Story with Photos, Video shown at Noah's Memorial Service

Seniors and Computers

The concept of lifelong learning took on full meaning for Esther McGowan when she registered for Intro to PCs for Seniors. “I have grandchildren who use computers, and I wanted to get a feel for them,” says McGowan. Delores McCarthy, another student of the class agrees. “I overheard my ten-year-old grandson discussing computers, and I thought, I’ve got to get on the ball.” Many seniors are signing up for computer classes through local schools, colleges, community centers, and online (Internet) resources. Today’s technology dictates the demand and need for computer knowledge from people of all ages, and senior citizens are determined not to get left behind. Seniors and Computers

Recognizing Caregiver Burnout

Caregiver burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that may be accompanied by a change in attitude -- from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Burnout can occur when caregivers don't get the help they need, or if they try to do more than they are able -- either physically or financially. Caregivers who are "burned out" may experience fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. Many caregivers also feel guilty if they spend time on themselves rather than on their ill or elderly loved ones. Recognizing Caregiver Burnout

Retirement Hobbies

A long list of ideas for the senior in your life! Retirement Hobby Ideas

Where Is God Ministries

A collection of bible verses for faith in times of stress Where Is God.net

Perinatal Hospice: Giving Terminally Ill Babies and Their Families an Alternative to Abortion

“Perinatal hospices" are a relatively new but important development whose noble goal it is to support parents during the emotional turmoil that is a part of pregnancy and birth of babies diagnosed with serious, if not necessarily always fatal, disorders. They provide an alternative to the "solution" of abortion, a decision that often only heightens the guilt of parents who may already be blaming themselves for producing an “imperfect" child. The perinatal hospice is really an advance in the care of pregnant women. It is a grueling time for them; they're grieving yet having to care for the baby at the same time. We follow the families' lead, and provide the types of support they need. Experience has also shown that carrying the baby to term helps parents deal with the grief that is inevitable when a child dies. If they abort the baby, the parents will always wonder whether the diagnosis was correct - - whether they murdered a healthy child. But if the baby is born, they are able to hold the child, videotape him, baptize him, and even take him home if he lives for a short time. They know that they did everything they could. They gave God a chance to heal the baby; gave every opportunity for a miracle. Perinatal Hospice Abortion Alternative

Newborns in Need

This organization is all about newborn and premature sick, needy, stillborn, or terminal babies and how we can help them when they can't help themselves. This website is to disseminate information and empower others to assist in this critical need. Their greatest provision is quilts, afghans, burial layettes and preemie garments (from 2# babies). On-going needs include (but aren’t limited to) money, fabric, sewing notions, and time – for those of you seasoned knitters, crocheters, or quilters. NIN Grand Rapids, MI Chapter, NIN Other National Chapters

An Historical Look Back: Dame Cicely Saunders

“I think very soon the right to die will become the duty to die.”

Dame Cecily Mary Strode Sauders, M.D., Founder of the modern hospice movement, 1918 – 2005

On euthanasia, 60 Minutes, CBS TV 24 Jul 83.

Credited with founding the modern hospice movement; she was the leading figure in the campaign to establish hospices around the world. Guided by her Christian faith and strongly opposed euthanasia, Saunders had a clear view of the role of hospices. "I once asked a man who knew he was dying what he needed above all in those who were caring for him. He said, 'For someone to look as if they are trying to understand me'," she said. "Indeed, it is impossible to understand fully another person, but I never forgot that he did not ask for success but only that someone should care enough to try." Her belief that dying is a phenomenon "as natural as being born," was at the heart of a philosophy that sees death as a process that should be life-affirming and free of pain. In her work toward changing society's attitude to what was regarded as the Western world's last taboo she said, "You matter because you are you, and you matter to the last moment of your life." Dame Cecily Saunders - Hospice Founder

Kaylee Wallace – Disturbing Coverage and Unasked Questions

Once in awhile, a story hits the news that is so heartwrenching and tragic that it seems rude and cold to ask questions - let alone challenge - elements of the story. Often, this is exactly the time that hard questions should be asked. Kaylee Wallace Further Wallace Update

Documentary - The Great Stem Cell Debate: Lines That Divide

CBC (Center for Bioethics and Culture) has produced and now released The Great Stem Cell Debate: Lines That Divide, a documentary that will soon be aired on television and perhaps in theaters. Jennifer Lahl, the CBC's head, has worked her finger to the bones getting this film done and distributed. (From Wesley Simth: "Yes, I am in it.") It is informative, engaging, and provocative. Clips of The Great Stem Cell Debate: Clip 1 and Clip 2

Alzheimer Care & Ethical Guidelines: Intimacy and Sexuality

Relationships are complex at the best of times. Add to this the changes brought on by Alzheimer's disease and you get the kinds of dilemmas that partners and families face. Talking about intimacy and sexuality is not always easy but it is a good starting point for resolving issues relating to companionship, intimacy and sexuality in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's and Intimacy

Competing Medical Futility Bills Introduced in Texas -- One to Stop it, One to Defend it

HB 2964 is an explicit defense of Futile Care Theory. The only bill that would eliminate most of the injustice that is the heart of futile care is HB 3325. My worry is that like last time, the real point of HB 2964 is to cynically confuse and divide the anti futile care forces, thereby allowing the current unjust law to remain firmly in place. Texas Futility Bills

Keeping Seniors Healthy: Do Seniors Get Bad Breath More Often?

Q: I was wondering if older people get bad breath more than younger folks. Sometimes the smell from Dad’s mouth when he talks is enough to make me ill. A: I could find no direct link between aging and halitosis, which is the fancy term for bad breath. However, I'm going to take a couple of educated stabs at the issue raised in this question. Seniors and Bad Breath?

Free Online Bible Study – Bible Truths to Conquer the Fear of Death and Dying

Do you have a fear of dying? Do you worry about end of life issues? Conquer end of life fears: Look forward to being with Jesus in heaven for eternity. Death and Dying Fears Bible Study

MOVING VIDEO: In the Blink of an Eye

In a time when death is viewed as better than disability, this short video carries a simple truth profoundly stated. It moved me beyond words. It states, in a most eloquent way, what I believe with all my heart: all human life matters. In the Blink of an Eye - Video

Including Children With Disabilities in Life

I sensed that what was unfolding before my eyes is the way God wants life to be—and children were leading the way! They didn’t need behavioral psychologists or "experts" to show them how to include children with disabilities. They just played. I also sensed that adults and experts needed the children’s example more than the other way around. We all do. Including Children With Disabilities in Life

Special Child: For Parents and Caregivers of Children with Special Needs

This is a phenomenal sites with loads of information! Special Child.com

The 10 Best and Worst Things to Say to Someone in Grief

Keep in mind - context, timing, and the person is making the comment are everything! Communicating With Those Who Grieve

Stages of Grief

The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines “grief” as a “deep and poignant distress caused by or as if by bereavement.“ In a simpler form, it could be defined as reaction to a significant loss. Naturally, such descriptions do little justice to the depth of the emotion, the all-encompassing pain it gives, and the far-reaching long-term effects on a person’s life it wreaks. At times it appears that grief is all there is within an affected life, yet this outlook rarely lasts a life-time. To those on the outside of this emotion, however, it appears that there is no change within the bereaved individual, and some secretly harbor a resentment, wishing the bereaved would finally “get over it” and move on with life. This first set of lessons will acquaint us with the face of grieve itself, its natural progression, and also factors that impede healing, such as the pain of experiencing a holiday for the first time without the loved one. Stages of Grief

Types of Grief and Loss

Take a quick look and three types of grief: anticipatory grief, sudden loss, and complicated grief. Source 1 and Source 2, and three additional types of grief: uncomplicated, dysfunctional, and disenfranchised. Pages 310-312

Twelve Ways to Help the Bereaved (From Child Loss)

• Be there
• Tolerate silences
• Listen in an accepting and non-judgmental way
• Avoid the use of clichés such as "Think of all the good times", "You can always have another child", etc.
• Encouraging them to talk about the deceased
• Be practical in your support by offering care for living children through funeral planning/arrangements, etc., or providing meals
• Mention the deceased child’s name
• Accept that tears are normal and healthy
• Avoid filling in conversations with a lot of outside news.
• Remember that grief may take many years to work through
• Acknowledge birthdays, death dates, anniversaries, etc.
• Accept that you cannot make them feel better

Adapted from: The Centre for Grief Education, McCulloch House, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, CLAYTON VIC 3168 Australia

Tears and Laughter

Crying and laughing are beneficial to us in a variety of ways and are important coping tools for us on our grief journey. Both are necessary for us to achieve balance in our healing process. Tears and Laughter

Helping Yourself Heal When Your Child Dies

Healing Through Child Death

Uncommon Loss: Mothers Who Grieve the Death of a Child

Every story of losing a child is unique and painful, and every mother grieves in her own way. Is it harder to lose a child suddenly or to lose her after a long illness? Is it more difficult to lose a baby and mourn the life that never really started, or to lose an older child or adult and mourn what was? There are no answers to these questions. But there are many common threads in the experience of losing a child, say bereaved mothers and bereavement experts. Mothers Grieving the Death of a Child

DEVOTIONALS: The Blessing of Tough Times

The superior gift of adversity results in ETERNAL prosperity and abundance which is a far greater, yes infinitely greater value than material possessions. Does that mean we should go looking for trials and tribulations? Hardly. Just be alive for any length of time and don't worry, they will find you. So rather than spending our time lamenting the existence of adversity, I would submit to you that a more profitable use of time would be to discover what God says about it, how we should respond to it, and what, if any, are the blessings to be gained by enduring it. Tough Times, Part 1 Continuing Series: Tough Times, Parts 2-10

Dignitas Under Investigation for 'Profiteering' from Assisted Suicide Patients

Dignitas, which is meant to be a non-profit organization, is being forced to open its accounts to prosecutors in Switzerland and disclose how much money it is receiving from its controversial business of assisting suicide. The founder of the group is reported to have become a millionaire by helping at least 870 terminally ill people – an estimated 100 of whom were British – die. It is said to have taken as much as £61,000 from one woman, 10 times its usual fee. Dignitas Possible Profiteering Investigation

Patient Died of Starvation in NHS Hospital

Martin Ryan, 43, was left unable to swallow after suffering a stroke but a "total breakdown in communication" meant he was never fitted with a feeding tube. Doctors thought that nurses were feeding him through a tube in his nose, an internal inquiry by the hospital found. But by the time they discovered this was not happening, he was too weak for an operation to insert a tube into his stomach. Mr. Ryan, who had Down's syndrome, died in agony five days later. Downs Patient Dies of Starvation in NHS Hospital Also: Horrific Pattern of Neglect of Patients with Disabilities

Frail Elderly Vulnerable to Abuse

Police said one was beaten and tormented, another was duct-taped and kidnapped, and that a third wandered off alone and died in the cold after getting stuck outside. Each of the women in these recent incidents was older than 85, placing them among the region's fastest-growing population segment -- and, experts said, among its most vulnerable. Elder Abuse

Connecting For Care

Technology is an ingredient in every aspect of healthcare today. It provides a way to not only improve the quality of healthcare and reduce the burden of caregiving, but also a way to connect people and build a sense of community. Connecting for Care seeks to utilize the latest communication and Internet technologies to connect all types of caregivers with the support, tools, and information they need in recognition of their achievements and in hopes of bettering the coordination of care among all groups. Connecting for Care was designed to provide resources and support to assist with the daily situations experienced by all caregivers. By providing a forum for various groups of caregivers to communicate, we hope you will be able to provide and receive tips as well as share advice with other caregivers. Connecting For Care

EKKLESION: Gathered in LOVE, Meal Planner 2.0

It’s the “CarePages” of meal planning. A simple way for neighbors and friends to share meals with a friend in need. Baby on the way? Under the weather? Start a plan for a friend, choose dates for meal delivery, and then publicize the plan to friends and neighbors. They can choose a day, bring a meal, and help a neighbor in need. Automatic email reminders keep the meals coming on schedule! Ekklesion Meal Planner This neat website tip comes from BFL executive assistant, Sharlene Lade. Sharlene and her small group from church are using it to provide a long-term structured schedule of meals for a family in need. View what others are bringing on opposite days so there’s good variety and no duplication while letting the family know what to expect and when. And should anything change, you can make modifications instantly! See some samples of meal plans already established for families .

CarePages - Free Patient Blogs

Through personalized websites, members can relate their stories, post photos and update friends and family instantly. In turn, people who care can send messages of love and encouragement. The CarePages website also provides unique resources (discussion forums, blogs, articles and more) to educate and guide members through their health journey, as well as give loved ones the tools to offer hope and emotional support when they're needed most. Our mission is simple: to ensure that no one goes through a health challenge alone. Brought to you by Revolution Health, CarePages was founded by Eric and Sharon Langshur in 2000. When their son, Matthew, was born with a heart defect in 1998 and needed surgery, Eric and Sharon struggled to find a way to keep in touch with family and friends about Matthew's condition. Sharon’s brother set up the first CarePages patient website to help. Today, Matthew is a healthy, happy kid, and CarePages has grown to reach millions of families across the globe. CarePages

Hospice Care Versus Physician-Assisted Suicide

Fear of abandonment, fear of unbearable suffering, depression and despair are the root causes of suicide in the terminally ill. Hospice care demonstrates that terminally ill patients need not be left to die alone or in unfamiliar, sterile environments, and that pain and other symptoms can be prevented or adequately treated. The choice is ours. To enact legislation allowing physician-assisted suicide is to plunge our society more deeply into the culture of death. It is imperative to defeat such legislation, and in its place to enact legislation which would increase the resources available to bring competent, compassionate health care to patients and families in their homes -- not only in the last six months of their lives as is presently done in hospice programs, but also long term for the chronically ill, the severely disabled and the frail elderly. In doing so we would have to our credit a major step toward transforming our culture of violence and death into a civilization of love and life. Hospice Vs. PAS

Treatment Approaches of Palliative Care

Goals of care evolve during the course of a serious illness. Patients, families, and medical staff must recognize that these goals can, and do, change -- often rapidly. Information and open lines of communication are essential if the goals are to be understood by everyone involved in the patient's care. For a patient in the earlier stages of a life-threatening illness, treatments might have the goal of curing the disease. When a cure is not possible, treatment still could be aimed at prolonging the patient's life while managing symptoms. At times during the course of the disease, the major goal might be to restore or maintain function. At other times, particularly toward the end of life, the treatment may focus completely on comfort for the patient and family. This articles gives a brief overview including medical, psychological, and spiritual treatment as well as practical considerations of palliative care. Treatment Approaches of Palliative Care

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care (pronounced pal-lee-uh-tiv) is the medical specialty focused on relief of the pain and other symptoms of serious illness. The goal is to prevent and ease suffering and to offer patients and their families the best possible quality of life. Palliative care is NOT the same as hospice care. Palliative care may be provided at any time during a person’s illness, even from the time of diagnosis. And, it may be given at the same time as curative treatment. Hospice care always provides palliative care. However, it is focused on terminally ill patients-people who no longer seek treatments to cure them and who are expected to live for about six months or less. What is Palliative Care? Also: What Should You Know About Palliative Care

Scottish Parliament "Narrow" Assisted Suicide Bill Again Demonstrates That the Movement is Not About Terminal Illness

There is a bill pending in the Scottish Parliament to legalize assisted suicide. It's author recently "narrowed" the bill to protect the vulnerable. But the narrowed bill would explicitly legalize assisted suicide for people with disabilities, once again clearly demonstrating that the "death with dignity" movement is not about a "choice" for the dying. No wonder the disability rights community is up in arms about assisted suicide Scottish Assisted Suicide Bill

The Way of Suffering

As I meditate on Jesus’ passionate prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, his human agony and suffering on full display, I am reminded how often we followers of Jesus also long for God to provide another way for us as well in the face of our own suffering. We do not want to follow Jesus down the Via Dolorosa, the way of suffering. We seek to follow the victorious entry of the Messiah into Jerusalem to be enthroned and crowned the king. We want that kind of victory borne out in our lives as the absence of difficulty. We want the glory and the grandeur of Palm Sunday as our entry into eternal life with as little pain and suffering as possible. But as author Kim Reisman has noted, “That is not the Jesus way. God doesn’t dispense with death. God resurrects us from it. The truth is that the Jesus way isn’t about God taking pain away from God’s people; it’s about God providing us with strength, courage, and meaning, with abundant life, often in the midst of pain.” The Way of Suffering

A Day in Pro-Life History - Remembering Terri

Four years ago, March 31, 2005, Terri Schiavo died after almost two weeks without food or water. Remembering Terri Schiavo

Italian Senate Approves End-of-Life Bill That Bans Withdrawing Food and Water From Patients

The Italian Senate approved a bill Thursday to ban caregivers from suspending food and water to any patient — a move that comes after a right-to-die case divided the nation. The woman in that case, Eluana Englaro, died last month after her family cut off her food and water. She had been at the center of a legal battle since entering a vegetative state following a 1992 car accident. The new bill, if approved by the lower house of parliament, would allow people to decide in advance how they want to be treated if they become incapacitated and to state it in a living will. Currently, Italy has no law allowing a living will. Italian End-of-Life Senate Bill

Dignitas Founder Plans Assisted Suicide of Healthy Woman

The founder of the Swiss assisted-suicide clinic Dignitas revealed plans today to help a healthy wife die alongside her terminally ill husband. Ludwig Minelli described suicide as a “marvelous opportunity” that should not be restricted to the terminally ill or people with severe disabilities.
Dignitas Plans Suicide of Healthy Woman

Doc Shocks Oprah on Ethical Stem Cell Successes

Dr. Mehmet Oz was on the Oprah Winfrey Show last week, along with guest Michael J. Fox, and he gave them both a shock: “The stem cell debate is dead.” A video clip from the show is also included in the article. Opray Show - ESC Debate Dead, Wesley's Smith Comments

Terry Pratchett (Prolific British Author): I'm Slipping Away a Bit at a Time... And All I Can Do is Watch it Happen

It occurred to me that at one point it was like I had two diseases - one was Alzheimer’s and the other was knowing I had Alzheimer’s. There were times when I thought I’d have been much happier not knowing, just accepting that I’d lost brain cells and one day they’d probably grow back or whatever. Part of the report I’m helping to launch today reveals that 50 per cent of Britons think there is a stigma surrounding dementia. Only 25 per cent think there is still a stigma associated with cancer. The stories in the report - of people being told they were too young or intelligent to have dementia; of neighbors crossing the street and friends abandoning them - are like something from a horror novel. Terry Prachett, Wesley Smith's Comments

Challenges and Choices: Elderly Caregiving

Although a caregiver can be anyone -- a spouse, child, friend or neighbor, usually it is a woman. The typical caregiver is 57 years old, female, married and employed outside the home. She can expect to spend as many years caring for a parent as for her children. There is also a good chance that she will be a caregiver to more than one person during her lifetime. If you are not currently caring for an elder, chances are that you will at some time during your life. This guide provides information about our aging population, issues related to caregiving, ideas for taking care of yourself and resources that can help. Elderly Caregiving

Belgian Woman Dead After Fighting for Assisted Suicide

According to her doctors, Van Esbeen did not qualify for euthanasia under a 2002 law which authorizes doctors to help patients die if they are suffering from a "serious terminal illness" and "constant and unbearable pain that cannot be relieved." Van Esbeen ended her hunger strike on March 24 and made a written euthanasia request which was accepted by a different doctor who helped her die on Wednesday around noon, her family said. Belgium Assisted Suicide Fighter

Spouses sometimes find themselves as caregivers

In hindsight, L.H. Wilson said the signs of his wife’s dementia were there. But when Imogene Wilson did not recognize their longtime friends during a trip to the beach, he knew without a doubt there was a problem. Finding Yourself a Spousal Caregiver

Tips On...Spousal Caregiving

When the loved one who a person is caring for is one’s spouse, there is often a lot of misunderstanding about what the role of “caregiver” is and what it means. Children do not often have any idea or inkling of how it affects both parents, and the parents often have a hard time understanding their children and their role. Often these misunderstandings can cause great strain between parents and adult children. Spousal Caregiving Tips

Know the Many Possible Causes of Memory Loss

Loss Although many people believe that memory loss is an early sign of Alzheimer's disease, studies show that more than 90% of those who complain about poor memory do not have Alzheimer's. So, if it is not Alzheimer's, what is it? Possible Causes of Memory Loss

Time for Dad to Die: After a Stroke, He's Gone But Still There

I love my 90-year-old father, and I wish he would die. In August, he told me, "I just want to live long enough to vote." On Oct. 20, just past midnight, he turned off CNN in his house in Massachusetts, started up to bed and had a massive hemorrhagic stroke. Had he had the stroke in the chair, my stepmother would have assumed he was sleeping, and without medical attention, he probably would have died by morning. The thumps he made falling down the stairs woke my sister and my stepmother, and saved his life. But what kind of life? Time for Dad to Die As a sideline, be sure to read Wesley Smith's reaction “What We Are Becoming: Time to Dehydrate Debilitated Stroke Patient”

How Hitler Perverted the Course of Science

We all have an image in our minds of the role of scientists in Nazi Germany: sinister, lab-coated figures who spent half their time conducting gruesome – and largely pointless – experiments on concentration‑camp inmates to gratify their own cruel impulses, and the other half devising futuristic weapons of mass destruction for Hitler to hurl at the advancing Allies in a last attempt to stave off defeat. Yet once you dig a little deeper, what is so disturbing is how prosaic the reality was, how similar in form, if not content, their work was to the research of today. Hitler's Perversion of Science

Getting Creative with Defined Areas of LIFT/Caregiver Ministry

Perhaps you’re having difficulty recruiting volunteers for caregiver ministry at your church because of fears, misconceptions, or feelings of inadequacy regarding all that “caregiving” might entail. Here are some defined ideas (some original, some take from other churches) that may draw the unobvious caregiver to your ministry; feel free to use these titles or make up your own.

• Showing Kindness in Labors of Love (SKILL) (or) Helping Hands (providing yard maintenance, shoveling, and small home repairs for the elderly & widows)
• Hospital In-patient Visitation Encouragers (HIVE)
• Meals Ministry
• Correspondence Connection (or) Caring through Cards
• Keeping in Touch (with shut-ins and the homebound) (KIT)
• Team-up for Transport (or) Rides within Reach (transportation for seniors who no longer drive including errands, appointments, or accompanying you to church.)
• Caregiver Relief & Respite (or) Breathers for the Burden Lifters (or) Helping Caregivers
• Carry On (providing assistance to a full-time caregiver by sitting with / visiting their loved one for a block of time to give the caregiver respite.)
• Parents’ Nite Out (church sponsored child-care afternoon/evening for special needs families)
• Older Wiser Loving Saints (OWLS) (General name for elder ministry)
• Helping, Encouraging, And Refreshing Together (HEARTS) (General name for elder ministry)

Ancient Deformed Children Not Always Killed by Parents

The discovery of the oldest known infant born with a skull deformity hints that, contrary to popular belief, early humans might not have immediately abandoned or killed their abnormal offspring, a new study says. Ancient Deformed Children Valued?

Make Your Wishes Known: End-of-Life Decision-Making Guide

Most people don't want to talk or think about end-of-life care. But with medical science and technology able to extend both the length and quality of life, conversations and decisions about end-of-life care are more important than ever. By thinking about and sharing your thoughts on end-of-life care, you can better assure that you and your family members' wishes at the end of life are met. Be sure to discuss your wishes with your agent, family, friends, caregivers, clergy, and doctors. It may be helpful to make a list before you begin these conversations to ensure you don't forget any important items that may eventually affect the decision you or they make. End-of-Life Decision Making Guide

When to Talk About End-of-Life Care

When is the right time to discuss end-of-life care? Many families wait until it is too late and only address the issue when a parent or loved one is too ill to talk about these issues. Families should begin talking about end-of-life wishes well before the final days. Having discussed the issues with their parents or grandparents, most people eventually realize that they need to express their own final wishes as well. Experts point to many opportunities that can spark discussions about end-of-life issues. Here are some. Best Timing When Discussing End-of-Life Wishes

Talking with Others about Their End-of-Life Wishes

Even if you have done everything to communicate your own end-of-life wishes, you may find yourself in a situation where you need to take the initiative and have the discussion with family members or loved ones who have not shared their end-of-life wishes with you. Here are a few helpful pointers to keep in mind as you plan for having this conversation Discussing End-of-Life Wishes

Medicaid Estate Recovery in Michigan

Effective September 30, 2007, the Michigan legislature passed Public Act 74 of 2007 which established a Medicaid estate recovery program in Michigan. Medicaid estate recovery has been mandated by the federal government since 1993, with Michigan being the last state to enact an estate recovery program. Estate recovery is a program by which the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) will, under certain circumstances, try to recoup the expenses paid on behalf of Medicaid recipients from their estates. Medicaid Estate Recovery & Elder Law While Michigan doesn’t have a “death tax” or “estate tax”, this is something to be aware of, and may prompt you to consider speaking with an elder-law attorney and setting up a living trust to protect your (or your loved one’s) estate.

Is He Dead Yet?

No matter what side of the organ donor argument you are on, when you read Zach Dunlap's story you will probably take a step back - to contemplate.

Zach's "brain dead" to life story (transcript) and Zach's Interview

Luxembourg Becomes Third EU Country to Legalize Euthanasia

On March 17, Luxembourg became the third European country to legalize euthanasia after the Netherlands and Belgium, as a new law went into force. The law was the source of great controversy in the tiny country where the head of state, deeply catholic Grand Duke Henri, refused to sign off on the bill, triggering a constitutional crisis. To get around his refusal and avoid such problems in the future, Luxembourg's parliament voted for legislation to give the monarch a purely ceremonial role. Luxembourg legalizes euthanasia

Four Gift Ideas for Shut-Ins

Do you have someone on your gift list who is a shut-in due to illness, age, or both? Whether it’s a family member, or a friend, you’ll want to select their gifts with extra care. This article provides four gift ideas that most shut-ins would appreciate. I’m basing this article on my experiences with my father and his contemporaries who receive full-time nursing care, but some of the ideas would also apply for younger folks who can’t get out due to illness or disability. Gifts for Shut-Ins

Health Care: Assisting the Homebound

Most of us are aware of a shut-in person in our neighborhood, church, civic organization, workplace or in our own families. Very often we have a desire to care for them, but are unsure in our role as caregivers. Where do we begin? How do we reach out to these individuals without violating their lives? How can we best assist them with respect and dignity? Knowing some of the characteristics of a shut-in will aid you in administering proper care. Assisting the Homebound

Christ-like Caring Ministry Ideas

Tips for visiting the elderly, widows, and shut-ins, and ministry to “forgotten” peoples (pages 5-7 in this pdf document) Visitation Tips

Parents' Hospital Lawsuit Says Teen Was 'Killed' For Organs

The parents of an 18-year-old who suffered a brain injury in a 2007 snowboarding accident say his doctors "intentionally killed" him to harvest his organs. In the lawsuit filed this week in the U.S. District Court of Western Pennsylvania, Michael and Teresa Jacobs claim that doctors "hastened" their son Gregory Jacobs' death by delaying treatment and ultimately pulling his breathing tube, causing him to suffocate. Teen Killed for Organs?

Terminally Ill Opt for Suicide by Starvation

To avoid the legal ban on medically assisted dying, doctors are helping patients starve and dehydrate themselves to death. The retired GPs have advised patients who are terminally ill, or suffer from a degenerative disease, that they can refuse food and drink if they are unable or unwilling to travel to a Swiss clinic to receive a fatal dose of medication. They admit the process of starving and dehydrating to death is “horrific,” but say patients have no alternative as long as euthanasia is illegal in Britain. The doctors are members of the campaign group Friends at the End (Fate), which lobbies for the introduction of assisted dying in Britain and gives practical advice on suicide. They warn patients determined to dehydrate themselves to death not to succumb to the temptation to rinse their parched mouths with water or ice, because this merely prolongs the agony. Suicide by Starvation So I guess now we should close all suicide prevention hotlines, because they would interfere with the wishes of suicidal people.

Alison's Story

I am 50 and was born with severe spina bifida. I am completely dependent on my wheelchair for mobility. I am doubly incontinent and I have the lung condition emphysema, which often makes breathing very difficult. I also have osteoporosis (brittle bones), which has caused my spine to collapse, trapping nerves. This causes extreme pain, which is not always controlled, even with morphine. When the pain is at its worst, I cannot move or speak. This can go on for hours, and there is no prospect of relief. Some years ago, a combination of physical and personal problems led me to feel that I couldn't go on living. For ten years, I wanted to die and I made several serious attempts to kill myself. I'll always be grateful to the friends who saved my life (though I wasn’t at the time). And I'm especially thankful there was no possibility of persuading my doctors to legally help me die. Two things helped me realize that, in spite of my many disabilities, life can be sweet. Living with Spina Bifida

Children of Aging Parents Caregiver Guide to Planning Ahead

Have you ever said or heard others say, "I don't ever want to be a burden to my children"? It's a common thought, but what have you done to insure that you won't be? If your parents share these sentiments, now is the time to initiate dialogue with them before it's too late. Aged Parents Planning Ahead

What Has the Loss of Your Father Taught You About Ministering to the Dying? By John Piper

To say goodbye to your father on this earth is a massive thing. To have prayed with others who have lost a father or mother is one thing. But to sit by his bed for a week, knowing that he is leaving was very very different. You rehearse your life differently. And your affections are different, because they are all bound up physically, emotionally, and historically with this man. So it wasn't the same. It was profoundly different. Loss of John Piper's Father