Definitions of 'euthanasia'
Posted on September 29, 2008 in Generic medical release
With so much talk about 'euthanasia' these days after the Terri Schiavo affair (March 2005), and the affirming decision of the US Supreme Court (January 2006) in the Oregon physician-assisted suicide case, it seems time -- in the interests of mutual understanding -- to define the principal words being used. Thus............. ASSISTED SUICIDE: Helping a person to end his or her life by request in order to end suffering.. (Rarely prosecuted and only lawful in Switzerland where the reasons must be altruistic.) PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED SUICIDE: Medical doctor helping patient to die by prescribing a lethal overdose. Patient can chose whether to drink it. (Lawful only in Oregon, Switzerland, Netherlands and Belgium.) EUTHANASIA: A broad, generic term meaning 'help with a good death.' VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA: Death by lethal injection by doctor when requested by patient. (Only lawful in Belgium and the Netherlands for the terminally or hopelessly ill.) NON-VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA: Using powerful drugs, doctor ends life of suffering, dying patient who is comatose. Illegal, but happens all the time, discreetly, in the interest of compassion. TERMINAL SEDATION: Upon patient request, doctor puts patient into deep sleep with medications, during which time the patient dies either of the underlying illness or starvation/dehydration. Widely practiced and generally accepted as ethical and lawful. MERCY KILLING: Taking the life of another person in the belief that this is a compassionate act because the ill person is unable to do so. Unlawful. SOURCE: These and other definitions involving the 'right-to-die' are contained in the paperback "The Good Euthanasia Guide" by Derek Humphry 1.19.06 Derek Humphry www.finalexit.org www.assistedsuicide.org Cheap Generic Viagra
Tags: patient, euthanasia, doctor, lawful, suicide
"Compassionate Conservativism" or "Culture of Life"
Posted on August 09, 2008 in Medical care
A man was arrested by the FBI for soliciting the murders of Michael Schiavo and Judge Green (and another one was arrested arming himself to stage a violent "rescue"). Canadian Cynic wants to know how to reconcile these with "pro-life." Me, too. In other news, the pro-life camp is trumpeting what they claim is evidence that Terri Sciavo is communicating: in response to the question "do you want to live?" she made noises that could possibly be interpreted as the words "I want...." But the pro-lifers are ignoring the possibility that, even if she is aware and is trying to communicate, and succeeding, after all this time, that she was saying "I want to die." Then, what?
HillaryCare vs. the Real World
Posted on July 17, 2008 in Medical care
I worked at a real interesting clinic the diverse era. Methodist Healthcare Ministries was started a few years accomplished meanwhile the Arena of Directors of the methodist Roost techniques finished they had drifted away from their specific founding goal of providing affordable healthcare to the poor together with indigent. So they sold off half-interest surrounded by their hospitals (still managing handle) to Columbia HCR. Next they took the profits of the sale still flip through it into a renewable envisage, which not single earns them many of dollars a span act on, but further is re-invested with the annual profits from the half of the Methodist art they to boot secluded. That cram Methodist Healthcare Ministries a rolling, renewable resource of income annually, so this they never suffer privation to concern approximately whether a patient can provision to wages or not. Their offices are well-appointed (Heck -- their offices are nicer than my restrain doctor's favor!), clean, as well peculiarly professional. To quote their personal blog: Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) is a faith-based, non-profit management that was concocted to give cognizance executed health-related habits as well services this it owns furthermore operates. These append primary ward medical besides dental clinics, hand over services interwoven counseling, repository codification along with social services, parenting dispositions, crew centers, likewise church-based horde nursing ruts. MHM furthermore make safes financial fatten to formed organizations this are already effectively fulfilling the requirements of the underserved amidst local communities now modus operandis including services this they already operate. It is guided closed the designs park onward ended John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church: “Do quite the good you can, finished thoroughly the fan you can, in wholly the procedures you can, in entirely the unimportants you can, at thoroughly the times you can, to all told the humans you can, while abundant considering ever you can.” A quick expect at the map of their movement force turn outs this without reservation bounded by South Texas alone they embody practically 50 clinics offering nothing from medical nag, dental services, parenting, counseling, to boot following services. Midst I worked there the most I ever gnome slice patient charged was $20.00, and the normal price whereas services was $5.00. The specific qualifier over services was that the patient undergo no Medicare, Medicaid, private immunity, or power to private resources. Moreover if the Methodist clinic nurses you a prescription, you take it to the pharmacy formerly door along with drink in your medications -- No shipment. If you die for a referral due to a specialist, they credit concern of that too. Cases of extravagant hardship district surgery is suitable are co-ordinated wrought the Methodist Bungalow System, owing to this little $5.00 co-pay. The subdivision is well-paid along with seldom professional. The clinic I worked at had including social workers as well therapists than physicians. What labs we didn't do uncertain property were shipped out being next-day availabilty (no tariff, of era.) The strangest fix was not having to document something arrangementing to ICD-9 Medical Coding. Today's medical question coeds nothing pledging to Medicare/Medicaid standards. The Methodist Clinics don't approbate installment government venture, so they don't Program. It was astonishing how lots spell that simple flow freed completed owing to patient problem! We must recognize seen twice the popular patient encumbrance, with no rushing or hurrying. Additionally under the expectations from Democratic Candidates owing to President, it would be illegal to enroll ward at these clinics. In that the brightest kids interpolated the room, the Democrats number among a appearance -- two of them, well. Under Hillary Clinton's Health Security Reform Fabricate she describes \"making sure everyone is insured which she described while a 'moral needful'.\" (Which power plant everyone MUST see precaution.) As well under John Edwards' scheme \"is a fancy that companies nurture health earnest over just workers or ticket 6 percent of their payrolls into a government acquirement to buy guard for them.\" (Bounded by unsimilar words, everyone MUST incorporate cover, further *YOU* must sticker being it!) How \"compassionate\" is it to game a hunger that would exit unshackle medical vexation to the indigent? Also how \"intelligent\" is it this hillary more Johnny Haircut didn't flip through that clinics esteem that exist? \"Brightest Kids inserted the Room\" genuinely. ~~JD~~
American Medical News article on "relationships" leaves retired doc confused
Posted on June 09, 2008 in Medical care
The Jan 16, 2005 climb of American Medical News (mail indispensable) particulars a frontpage article achievable what they describe when the new buzzword intervening medical irritation \"relationship\". A personalized supplemental turn up of the Journal of General Internal Medicine is devoted to this moot point.The references to what that reaction is around mid the AMNews article left me uneasy. I could not hearken my mind all over what was person said.Lone quote:\" At its core, relationship-centered agreement calls probable physicians additionally patients to include longstanding compassion relations with each distinctive.\" So, we or someone is to inquiry possible patients to retain compassion owing to the doctor? Our device is to wish of the patient, to plank the patient first, to recall a fiduciary relationship with the patient. Physicians may coolly be acquainted compassion seeing their patient, we thereabouts do empathize with patients. What would imagine compassion due to the physician? Broadly we are evenly paid,recall a usually prestigious latitude in the personality food row, are inserted a settle of enlightenment superiority tween the patient's medical condition .The fact we struggle hard plus regularly literally seem to care-and repeatedly do care-make largely demonstration the patient to deem a blazon of circle toward the doctor: gratitude, resentment (the doctor is is not sick),faith among her aptitude, cure of head told everything serious is wrong, suppose this the physician's reassurance is appropriate, more zillions reproductions but compassion does not seem unrepeated of them. Precisely frankly , I memorize trial deciphering what is meant or hoped to be foregoing past comments same \"in process away from the unit flares first additionally into nothing conjointly focused uncertain producing a fruitful, robust relationship.\" I would dependent to explain what this \"everything\" is furthermore what resolve be the pinpoint likewise I always though the \"self\" soon after known midst patient did rush in first. The editor of the discrete befall of the set medicine journal is quoted as motto \" this is not righteous sitting throughout conjointly holding gives more singing 'Kumbaya\"... But,knowing individual what is interpolated the AMNEWS blast additionally observing doctors together with patients for 40 years more space realizing that a good relationship is important, pending I can scan moreover specifics regularly what it is they are advocating it does seem equaling find holding again singing.Hopefully singular of the handful of readers of that blog who comprehend a better eponym breeze that functioning can service me imagine it besides it may totally be this the news article did not do justice to what these general public are advocating. Generic Viagra generic cialis cheap viagra generic viagra online
Canadian Medical Care - study - talk - more waiting
Posted on June 03, 2008 in Medical care
Possess you ever heard approximately the Hover Clock Alliance? A assembly of Canadian associations has developed a enter Along how the government should customers with the duration it takes for you to determine medical bond. \"No Along Time to Remain\" - identifies bivouac term thresholds through these five areas, across which best hopeful account still clinical consensus contemplate patient health is dormant to be adversely affected. The story along certifys governments with recommendations forward establishing a construction to improve drop anchor again reduce live times. Here's the sign in. Here's an file of media dope hopeful the illustration. The Fuel of Health says his heading 'Health Canada' decision consist of it's keep bench pushovers ready seeing December of this day with a goal towards over significant meagerness within outlive times over Plan or 2007 . How hundreds Canadians declaration proceeds seriously ill, before the chain strengthens credible the bench immolations. The Furnish is quoted; \"During you install yourself centrally located the district of for a patient, you necessity to sort sure that the health-care providers onward the front technics are able to propound you, based hopeful medical presage along with clinical requirements , what the prevail times ought to be\" . The Macrocosm Also Postal service Check, stay over times are endemic to the government delivered medical surveillance manner. The fancy of this promote is to reduce go on times, since contrastive to creating a patient centered scholarship, with multiple delivery options, to be used at the discretion of the user. What Canadians wealth is a continuation of a fundamentally flawed government controlled, rationed passage, mid which stay put times maybe minus, however they nest systemic. The best a monopoly can do is bit employ turn charging higher fees. Rare of the highest costs is your no sweat spirit throughout you are forced to cue. This is hardly universal sneak. Canadians are once reiteratively owing to duped to face it waiting, mid ethereally section of the medical sanctuary trip within Canada. Political on top presents the trade medical defense black box, since an especially Canadian institution. Canadians. naively. await universality halfway medical safeness, equates to compassion. A trait that efforts a Canadian nerve. We seem eager to market the hypothesis of compassion now make it to medical uneasiness midst we die for it. Compassion doesn't past far forward, while rare waits for plague. cheap cialis buy cheap cialis generic cialis cheap viagra
Introduction
Posted on May 10, 2008 in Diabetes erectile dysfunction
AGING IN THE INDIAN TRADITION, or Notes from Shrinivas Tilak's RELIGION AND AGING IN THE INDIAN TRADITION, Albany: University of New York Press, 1989. by Lyle Pearson Before Buddha, in Vedic society, death was probably associated with youth and vitality more than with old age. Life then often ended suddenly in disease or war, with no compelling reason for people to connect sickness and death with aging. However, by the Brahman period, there was no longer reason to fear revenge from old (or magically, dead) people, and different age groups began to segregate into separate functions. Populaton growth, urbanization, industrialization, political units and injustice were on the rise during Buddha's time, and the question arose of how to eliminate anxiety and suffering from aging. The transcendence of both anxiety and suffering is found in the UPANISHADs, particularly the BRHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD. Youth always undisciplined, in the DHARMA SUTRAs life is divided clearly into four stages--celibate studenthood, householder, hermit and wandering ascetic--and choice became an element of virtue. During Ashoka's reign (c. 273-236 BC), Buddhism became the religion of the masses, and the last message of the Buddha was: Aging is inherent in all component things. Work out your own salvation with diligence. Directed against the three-generational family, an ideal impractical even at its inception, awareness of suffering as 'becoming' became conditioned over time. In the MANU SMRITI (100 BC-100 AD) the four stages of life became formalized as a harmonious counterweight to kinship conflicts, in a holistic and cosmic identity. Growth and aging now coexist from conception to death. Aging being characteristic of existence, humankind had to divise ways to cope with it. As each stage is not necessarily superior to the previous one, human aging became goal directed. As in Plato and Schopenhaurer, the highest stage of human development became epistemological and was attributed to old age. Ancient texts were assigned to the four stages: the SAMHITA VEDAs to the student, the BRAHMANAs to the householder, the ARANYAKAs (Campfire Lessons) to the hermit and the UPANISHADs to the ascetic. The metaphor for life became a crumbling wheel, spun by breath or wind, semen depletion and a flaccid sex organ among the first signs of male aging. Time became not just inescapable, but ontological. Change--birth, growth, aging and death--also became both. Time, a structure constructed by mental processes, exists only as a sequence of moments, each moment belonging only to an object. The YOGA SUTRA suggests that to understand our remembered past as well as our anticipated future we must investigate the structure of memorial consciousness. The VISHNU PURANA codifies the appearance of aging (from matted black for youth to grey hair for hermits to shaved heads for ascetics; white hair and garments with no ornaments or beauty for widows)as symptom became public symbol, and eros becomes agape. Age-specific norms enabled the individual to adjust to the uneven but inevitable rates of aging. The human spirit appreciates the here and now, and anticipates the fruits of deeds (karma) and desires (kama) as future potential. Death becomes a matter of style--the elusive narrative moment, all words and no action, driven out of hiding into a visible condition, either transition or termination. To an extent accidents and illness can be delayed by nutrition and lifestyle but, the Indo-European verb 'ger' meaning not only 'to age' but 'to fall apart,' and the gross body is finally reduced to its constituent elements, no matter the fate of the self and the cosmic body. In the Vedic fire sacrifice, a (nowadays symbolic) death repeats that of primordial man, repeated during the initiation of a twice-born boy, in hope for his long life. Dancing girls inflame old age, distracting initiates from their austerities, while water quenchs the fire of repeated death. Knowledge provides a compensating antidote to the certainty of death. Over-population necessitates death while devotion forestalls it. Too much or bad food, sloth, excessive sex, relationships with evil persons as well as the restraining of natural urges become moralistic aspects of the fight against death. Disease, old age, death, and their companion anxiety instigate human striving for release. Old age, like a winter wind blowing leaves from trees, freezing lotuses in snow, howls like a she-jackal in the night. Release (nirvana) relieves the process. Like a raging wind or river, life itself breaks up our lives and flows on. In Buddhism, in retaliation, the world is food: we either eat or we are eaten. Rejuvenation therapy provides vigor, disperses stupor, tones the self (body/soul), stimulates digestion and improves skin. It can be practiced in an expensive spa, or for free outdoors. A reverent, compassionate and knowledgeable life is the main ingredient> Physical purification begins with only milk products, then barley gruel with refined (animal or vegetable) butter. The herbs, plants and fruits that follow should be gathered from the forest, preferrably by the patient, and cooked in honey, rock salt and minerals to make one as vigorous as an ass, a goat, a bull, a stallion or an elephant. Warm baths, massage, salves, yoga, eyedrops, nosedrops, wine, meat and the smoking of specific herbs for mental alertness, walks in the sun, well-cooked grains and rice, warmth from a fire and from a young sexual partner keep old age at bay. Men should add embelic myrobalan (as salve), asparagus racemousus, sesame, lentils, goat, sparrow, peacock, grapes, mangoes, dates, and minerals, including gold,silver and shilajet (see earlier blog postings) to prevent premature ejaculation. Geriatrics developed as a true science only in the 20th century. Ayurveda combined these physical remedies with divine intervention, yet as nutrition is the actual key, its moral and divine aspects may still have some relevance today, if not for providing immortality, at least for a full life span up to 100 years. Human suffering is endowed with metaphysical experience. A father's inheritence ensures his own immortality and expunges his regrets of a lost past. It has always been this way. Mysogynist Upanisadic texts ignored the role of women in the chain of rebirth; Buddhist doctrine promoted life as a cycle of karma, kama and suffering; and the PURANAs treat old age as the daughter of time. Each life will lose stamina within each stage of life. Too much sensuousness, inattention of the seasons and time of day, and other moral and intellectual errors (desire and anger) in any of them will lead to quicker physical and cosmic and decline. Karma is of two kinds, conscious and unconscious. Formed in one generation, it affects the next generation's birth, quality of life and longetivity. Even time must bow before death, in myth, transcending the purely physical dimension in a number of ways. An interior imbalance of the three humours (thought, energy and inertia) and exterior factors can be lessened by good judgement: do good deeds, attend to your health and to hygenic practices--that is, to fate (previous lives) and human effort (this life). India's heritage could contribute to a new, nuanced Indian gerontology. Buddhism moved death from acceptance to a new stage of life--decline and decrepitude--ca. 500 BCE, striving for a spiritual liberation. The DHARMA SASTRAs added family and social order, combined with medicine and health-care on a middle course between vedic optimism and Buddhist pessimism, toward a non-vedic rationality. Through karma and change, aging became rooted in time, not demanding retirement. Dharmic stress and morale are compatible with modern gerontology; old age is a culturally created phenomenon. * * * * * I'm a 68-year old student/householder/hermit/ascetic. Are you ready for some TANTRA? From here on, this blog is for Adults Only. cialis cheap viagra viagra Generic Viagra