RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Single cell can produce other stem cells, leave embryo intact
By HELEN PEARSON Nature

A single cell can be teased from a human embryo and used to produce stem cells while leaving the embryo intact. The process, published online in Nature, could enable stem-cell lines to be generated without the controversial destruction of human embryos — but some ethical objections remain.
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By Laura Ungar
lungar@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

Citing the unfulfilled promise of Kentucky’s mental-health system, a leading advocacy organization has given the state a failing grade in its first state-by-state analysis of such systems in more than 15 years.

Kentucky is one of eight states to receive an F on the report by the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Indiana posted a D-minus, with the alliance pointing to problems such as waiting lists for community services. The national average was a D. Read the rest of this entry »

[This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1573957.htm]

The World Today - Monday, 20 February , 2006 12:38:00
Reporter: Liv Casben
ELEANOR HALL: The Medical Council of New Zealand has referred euthanasia campaigner Dr Philip Nitschke to the country’s Ministry of Health for practising medicine in New Zealand without a license.

The Council says Dr Nitschke needs to be registered as a doctor to carry out his euthanasia workshops, which inform participants of their legal rights about ending their lives.

Dr Nitschke, who was advised of the ruling this morning, denies that he needs a licence. He faces a criminal conviction if he’s found guilty of the charge. Read the rest of this entry »

Coretta Scott King’s death in a Baja health center—and its shutdown by authorities—reopens an old controversy

By JILL UNDERWOOD/SAN DIEGO
No one is exactly sure when Americans began going to alternative medicine clinics south of the border. As early as 1963, the Hoxsey Clinic had opened in Tijuana with its motto “run by Americans, for Americans.” And then in 1980, a dying and seemingly desperate Steve McQueen rode off into the sunset in Mexico while seeking laetrile treatments to cure his lung cancer. There may have been hundreds of alternative health clinics at that time. Today, there are only a few dozen. Read the rest of this entry »

Mexican Clinic Where Coretta Scott King Died Has Been Closed, U.S. Embassy Officials Say
The Associated Press
MEXICO CITY - The Mexican clinic where Coretta Scott King died has been closed, U.S. Embassy officials said Friday.

Mexican officials were not immediately available to explain why the Santa Monica Health Institute in the Mexican beach resort of Rosarito, 16 miles south of San Diego, was shut. Read the rest of this entry »

By Sarah Womack, Social Affairs Correspondent
(Filed: 21/01/2006)

Plans by the Voluntary Euthanasia Society to rename itself Dignity in Dying came under bitter attack last night.

Critics said the phrase was used by terminally ill people seeking a better quality of life - not asking for euthanasia or assisted suicide.
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IAN JOHNSTON
Key points
• Report reveals as many as one in three patients had deaths accelerated
• All deaths assisted by medical staff are illegal under British law
• The British Medical Association disputes the figures

Key quote
“The illegal decisions are extremely rare compared with other countries. Three thousand sounds like a lot, but it’s not. The rate in the UK is significantly lower than in other countries where this survey has been conducted” - Professor Clive Seale, author of report into assisted deaths Read the rest of this entry »

Coroner autopsies 45 bodies from New Orleans hospital
Knight Ridder Newspapers
October 14, 2005

By Jennifer Latson and Mark Washburn NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana’s attorney general is investigating allegations that patients at the city’s Memorial Hospital were euthanasized in the desperate days after Hurricane Katrina. Read the rest of this entry »

Barbara Clark, a nurse fighting breast cancer, today won her battle with her local health authority to be prescribed life saving drugs.

Ms Clark, 49, from Bridgwater, Somerset, was taking legal action in an attempt to get the expensive drug Herceptin. Read the rest of this entry »

Too many don’t have doctors, clinics, insurance
By Peter Smith
and Laura Ungar
psmith@courier-journal.com

At the Little Flower Free Clinic in Hazard, nurse Beverly May sees patients in imminent danger of heart attacks or risking blindness and amputation from uncontrolled diabetes.

And those are the fortunate ones.
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Dear Colleague,

ADAPT is headed to DC, September 17-22, http://www.adapt.org/bulletin.htm .
We’re in the process of gathering stories about people with disabilities impacted by Katrina. We’re particularly interested in people who utilize home and community based services (HCBS). Since last week advocates have been visiting evacuees in nursing homes and when possible, shelters. Some of the people PLACED in nursing homes were living in there own home. Our concern is without advocacy and service coordination they could get stuck. Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Friends of Disability Rights,

The Centers for Independent Living in Biloxi, Mississippi and New Orleans were severely impacted by the hurricane. In fact the Biloxi, MS center was totally destroyed. Many of you are asking how you can help. Here is what we have learned from colleagues in those states. Read the rest of this entry »

By BENEDICT CAREY

Mary Duffy was lying in bed half-asleep on the morning after her breast cancer surgery in February when a group of white-coated strangers filed into her hospital room.

Without a word, one of them - a man - leaned over Ms. Duffy, pulled back her blanket, and stripped her nightgown from her shoulders. Read the rest of this entry »

August 9, 2005

Shruti L. Mathur

Like most graduating high schoolers, Patrick Lane wants to find a job.

So Lane, 19, went with several of his friends to a career camp to find out more about what kind of job he might want, how to fill out job applications, and how to have a successful interview. Read the rest of this entry »

Community leaders are responding to studies on disparities.

(August 19, 2005) — Who hasn’t heard complaints, or complained themselves, about the way the nation’s health care system seems to be heading downward amid unrelenting cost-cutting efforts? Perception, maybe. But it’s one shared by many Americans in this community and nationwide. Read the rest of this entry »