96 percent responding that they believe enhancing the quality of life for seriously ill patients is more important than extending life as long as possible.
Programs aim to bring palliative care to emergency rooms where end-of-life wishes can be forgotten in the rush to provide treatment.
Public screening of “Serving Life” a documentary about an extraordinary hospice program where hardened criminals care for their dying fellow inmates. Sunday, July 24th from 2:00 to 3:30PM. Free — but space is limited.
Many Washingtonians say it’s more important to enhance the quality of life for seriously ill patients than to extend their lives through every possible medical intervention, Seattle Times health reporter Carol Ostrom writes.
Is hospice being misused?. Although intended for terminal patients, one in five hospice patients receive services for more than six months.
Very ill patients, even when not facing death, can benefit from better pain and symptom management from specially trained palliative care teams.
Hospice care generally refers to care received during the period of time when a patient has stopped seeking treatment for a life-threatening illness or when more treatment is extremely unlikely to prolong life.
Advocates say change may encourage people terminal illnesses to take advantage of hospice care earlier.
Some hospice executives say the poor economy may also be driving doctors to hold on to patients longer.
“…giant step forward in helping patients at the end of their lives…”
This November Washingtonian state voters will vote on whether to allow terminally ill adults to obtain a prescription for a lethal dose of medications to end their lives. Supporters of the ”Death with Dignity” initiative, designated I-1000, say the measure will give the terminally ill some control over how they die. But opponents say passage of initiative [...]
LocalHealthGuide is a health news and information web service for Seattle and the Puget Sound Region. We are independent and unaffiliated with any hospital, medical association or insurer. If you have questions or if your group has an upcoming event that you would like us to cover, please let us know by going to our "Contact Us" page and dropping us a note. -- Michael McCarthy, Editor
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Seattle Times Health News
Experts divided over recommendation to screen children for cholesterol
Some clinicians say universal screening is an important tool to help identify children who are genetically predisposed to high cholesterol and to pinpoint others who could benefit from treatment. Others express concerns that screening may do more harm than good.
People in state high-risk insurance plans often feel left behind
The federal health law set up new plans that are cheaper and more comprehensive than the older ones run by states but consumers need to go without insurance for six months to qualify.
Peeking in on your doctor’s notes
Although federal law guarantees patients the right to examine and get copies of their medical records, providers haven’t always made it easy to do so. But the movement to give patients direct access to their health information has picked up steam, and policymakers have encouraged it as a way to empower patients to help manage their health and their medical care.
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