More great moments in socialized medicine: Pathway for the elderly that leads to legal execution

At around 4 am on Monday, a friend was woken by a call from the private care home in south-west London where her 98-year-old grandmother is resident. "Mrs ------- has breathing difficulties," the night manager told her. "She needs oxygen. Shall we call an ambulance? . . . She needs to go to hospital. Do you want that? Or would you prefer that we make her comfortable?" But being "made comfortable" is no longer the reassuring euphemism it once was. Telegraph

Born with half a brain, woman living full life

Michelle Mack has turned medical thinking upside down. Born with only half a brain, Mack can speak normally, graduated from high school and has an uncanny knack for dates. At 27, doctors determined that the right side of her brain had essentially rewired itself to make up for function that was likely lost during a pre-birth stroke. Now 37, she lives with her mother and father, and works from home doing data entry for her church. She is fairly independent, pays rent and can do most household chores. She realizes she'll need help for the rest of her life but wanted to tell her story to make it clear that she is not helpless. "I wanted to do this so people . . . learn about people like me," she said, "that I'm normal but have special needs, and that there are a lot people like me, so that they could be more understanding." CNN

'Sole caretaker' admits pushing wife, leading to her death

A man charged with killing his 70-year-old wife admitted pushing her down out of frustration that she wouldn't clean herself. The victim, Ella Comella, has suffered dementia for several years, and her 73-year-old husband, Agostino Comella, admitted to police that he had grown "increasingly frustrated being the sole caretaker and provider for his wife," according to an arrest warrant affidavit. WOOD TV

There's still time . . . and plenty of room!

There’s still time to register for the LIFT Caregiver Summit! And still room for you. If you’ve already registered, download the poster or forward on the link to the brochure to your friends and colleagues. Please help us promote the event! If you have questions, call or email Sharlene: (616) 257-6800, 1-800-968-6086.

Performance art highlights discrimination against the disabled

Disabled artist Liz Crow took to Trafalgar Square wearing a Nazi uniform. According to Disability Arts Online: "Crow's thoughtful piece of work was designed to draw attention to the Nazi programme of killing disabled people, which provided the blueprint for the 'Final Solution'. Crow sees this as having strong current relevance in the context of discussion about pre-natal screenings and assisted suicide." Mad World

Short Cuts on Daily Tasks to Save Time and Energy

Chronic pain blogger Sue Falkner-Wood shares some of the strategies she uses to make everyday tasks more manageable. Everyday Health

Drop Dementia Risk with This Protein

Imagine a brain so uncertain, you have to rely on others to tell you what to do and when to do it. Now imagine a protein source that helps you avoid that scenario. The source? Fish. A recent study suggests that eating fish a few times a week may reduce dementia risk by as much as 19 percent! Real Age

Life Expectancy in the United States is Increasing

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, life expectancy in the United States as of 2007 averaged 77.9 years, an all time high. Life expectancy for men hit 75.3 years and 80.4 years for women, both record highs for each sex. These figures show that life expectancy has increased 1.4 years in the 10 years since 1997. Everyday Health

More great moments in socialized medicine

A plumber horribly broke his arm 10 months ago and is still waiting for surgery to repair it. Torron Eeles busted his left humerus bone leaving it grotesquely out of shape when he fell down stairs. Today he slammed the NHS for "unacceptable" delays - claiming they have cancelled four separate operations. His arm hangs limply by his side meaning Torron cannot work for a living and now faces the prospect of losing his home. The Sun

Thousands of NHS patients with previously untreatable rheumatoid arthritis could be denied a new 'smart' drug to ease their agony because it is too expensive. . . . The drug has been licensed throughout Europe, but the cost has led the Government's rationing body to issue a preliminary rejection of its use by NHS patients in England. Daily Mail

The Health Benefits of Laughter

Proverbs 17:22 - "A joyful heart is good medicine, But a broken spirit dries up the bones."

Laughter is a key component of a happy life and it has powerful physical and mental benefits. No matter what you're facing, you can learn to laugh and benefit from its healing ways. Everyday Health, Science Daily, Clean Joke of the Day

CT doctors file suit to allow assisted suicide

Two southwestern Connecticut doctors said Wednesday that they are suing the state to allow them to provide "aid in dying" for mentally competent, terminally ill patients. Dr. Gary Blick, a Norwalk physician, and Dr. Ron Levine, of Greenwich, said during a news conference in the state Capitol that "terminal sedation," the only legal treatment for them to offer, is inappropriate. Connecticut Post

Whose Right to Die?

In this 1997 article, Ezekiel Emanuel, President Obama's healthcare advisor, seems to spell out why he opposes assisted suicide and involuntary euthanasia. In the end, however, he argues that "in exceptional cases interventions are appropriate, as acts of desperation." There's probably not a single case that could not be deemed exceptional. The Atlantic

Great moments in socialized medicine: Grandmother dies of ovarian cancer after being sent home FIVE times

Barbara Collins, 68, was bed ridden for months with agonising pain and bowel problems, classic signs of the killer disease, but sent home with only laxatives. The mother of four was correctly diagnosed with ovarian cancer a staggering four months after her first visit to Manchester Royal Infirmary, and died 10 days later. Daily Mail

Alzheimer's Disease Stages

There are typically seven stages of Alzheimer's disease. As a caregiver, do you know what to expect? Everyday Health

Tender Loving Care for Dry Skin

Dry, itchy skin is a common side effect of both chemotherapy and radiation — simple care tips can help. Everyday Health

End-of-Life Decisions in Dutch Neonatal Intensive Care Units

Study in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine:

Setting: The 10 neonatal intensive care units in the Netherlands from October 2005 to September 2006.

Patients: All 367 newborn infants who died in the first 2 months of life in Dutch neonatal intensive care units. Adequate documentation was available in 359 deaths.

Results: An end-of-life decision preceded death in 95% of cases, and in 5% treatment was continued until death. Of all of the deaths, 58% were classified as having no chance of survival and 42% were stabilized newborns with poor prognoses. Withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy was the main mode of death in both groups. One case of deliberate ending of life was found. In 92% of newborns with poor prognoses, end-of-life decisions were based on patients' future quality of life and mainly concerned future suffering. Considerations regarding the infant's present state were made in 44% of infants.

Conclusions: Virtually all deaths in Dutch neonatal intensive care units are preceded by the decision to withdraw life-sustaining treatment and many decisions are based on future quality of life. The decision to deliberately end the life of a newborn may occur less frequently than was previously assumed.

Editor: The main researcher, Dr. Eduard Verhagen, has spoken about his experiences as a doctor who administers lethal injections to babies in this Times Online article: 'In the baby's last seconds you see the pain relax and then they fall asleep.' How objective is he in this study? And how does he differentiate between 'deliberate ending of life' and 'withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy'? See also Conflicts About End-of-Life Decisions in NICUs in the Netherlands.

How to Be a Friend During a Health Crisis

Someone you know is dealing with a serious health issue — what can you do to help? Our Organized Care giver blogger offers her advice. Everyday Health

Protecting Your Patient in the Hospital

Overworked caregivers in hospitals and inexperienced medical staff can be at the root of hospita l errors. Lynda Shrager gives tips on how to be vigilant so that mistakes are not made on your patient. Everyday Health

Family of suicidal woman to sue hospital

The parents of Kerrie Wooltorton, 26, are also calling for an urgent change in the law to stop rules which gave the terminally ill the right to decline treatment being used by those wanting to kill themselves. Wooltorton swallowed anti-freeze and presented a suicide note asking doctors not to save her life. The doctors followed her request, claiming that her wishes were legally binding. Telegraph

Is there an essential difference between suicide and assisted suicide?

About 32,000 suicides occur in the United States each year, but a new study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that many more give the idea serious thought. In the face of all of this despair, what is the message of the assisted suicide movement? That killing yourself is a right and proper means of ending your suffering. Some advocates say this is “only” for the terminally ill. But suffering people are not going to hear the message that suicide is okay–but only if you have cancer. Secondhand Smoke

Health bill's deadly fine print

During the continuous, extensive coverage of this proposed legislation, there has been only very limited mention – and none I've seen in the mainstream press – of a section that penalizes doctors for Medicare patients who, for at least five years (from 2015 to 2020), authorize total treatments that wind up in the top 10 percent of national annual Medicare costs per patient. The 1 in 10 Medicare doctors who spend beyond this limit will themselves lose 5 percent of their own total Medicare reimbursements. Considering the already low rates Medicare doctors get – and the president pledges they will get lower – this could be a heavy penalty. Nat Hentoff

Conditional Consciousness: Patients in Vegetative States Can Learn, Predicting Recovery

Brain-damaged patients who appear to have lost signs of conscious awareness might still be able to create new memories, showing signs of new neural networks and potential for partial recovery. Scientific American

Options for Extra Care: Nursing Homes and Hospice Facilities

The services offered by nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or hospice are all very different. Find out more about each one and the costs associated with them. CarePages

Choosing a Nursing Home

If you're evaluating nursing homes for a loved one, there are many things to consider and a lot of questions to ask. Everyday Health

Tips to Avoid Compassion Fatigue

Blogger Julie Rosen provides tips on how to care for yourself during stressful times. Now she wants to know what you do to keep yourself sane, engaged, and compassionate in your work and life. Everyday Health

Lung Cancer: 7 Steps for Managing Fear

Are you constantly distracted, angry, or irritable? Do you feel tension in your muscles? These may be signs of fear — a common emotion for those diagnosed with lung cancer or any other cancer. Everyday Health

Palliative carers should pay more attention to hydration

In my experience on geriatric wards terminal delirium was vanishingly rare, perhaps because my patients were not left in a dehydrated state. In the early 1990s Bruera and colleagues in Canada found that the incidence of terminal delirium in cancer patients can be reduced by two thirds if dehydration is prevented and care taken with opioid medication. Times Online

UK to Clarify Assisted-Suicide Prosecutions

The assisted-suicide debate will come to a head in Britain this week, as the country's chief prosecutor clarifies the circumstances under which the state will prosecute families for helping terminally ill loved ones to die. Assisting a suicide will remain illegal, as it has been since 1961. But supporters of assisted suicide say they hope the new guidelines will make it easier for families to avoid prosecution when they help a parent, spouse or sibling to die and are clearly acting out of compassion and not malice or in search of financial gain. WSJ

MS Events: Good for What Ails You

Every time I attend an MS event, be it a walk, a luncheon, gala dinner, an educational program, or what have you, I feel better! Maybe it’s because I see old friends. Maybe it’s because I see scads of folks living with multiple sclerosis not just having multiple sclerosis, but living with our disease. Everyday Health

Why Do Some MS Patients Fare Better?

Researchers have identified two genes that may explain why MS affects some more than others. Everyday Health