11/25/15

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

This May Not Help Prevent Repeat Miscarriage

Findings likely to disappoint many couples, researcher says

From: http://www.webmd.com/baby/news/20151125/progesterone-may-not-help-prevent-repeat-miscarriage-study-finds?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Those in 50s Largest Group Battling Drug Addiction

Big jump also seen in those aged 60 and older needing treatment for painkiller, heroin abuse

From: http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20151125/those-in-their-50s-now-largest-group-battling-addiction-to-narcotics-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Obesity in Youth May Harm the Heart Long-Term

Risk of sudden cardiac death was still higher, decades after women had lost the pounds, study found

From: http://www.webmd.com/parenting/news/20151125/obesity-in-youth-may-harm-the-heart-long-term-even-after-weight-loss?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Drug Helps Those With Tough-to-Treat Schizophrenia

Clozapine already approved for use after other antipsychotics don't work

From: http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/news/20151125/drug-helps-those-with-tough-to-treat-schizophrenia-study?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Prisons offer yoga to help rehabilitate inmates

Danny Plunkett is 26 years into a prison sentence for murder and robbery -- and three years into his yoga practice

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/prisons-implement-yoga-programs-to-help-rehabilitate-inmates/

HGTV's Tarek El Moussa meets fan who spotted cancer

Tarek El Moussa has the best fan ever: Ryan, a "Flip or Flop" viewer, saved his life

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/hgtvs-tarek-el-moussa-meets-fan-who-spotted-cancer/

Abortion rates in the U.S. continue to decline

Experts say drop in abortions could be because of factors such as the better use of birth control and the lingering effects of the economic recession

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-abortion-rate-continues-to-drop/

Yoga helping prisoners find peace

Inmates at California's San Quentin prison are working to find their zen place through yoga sessions

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/yoga-helping-prisoners-find-peace/

Family: NFL Hall of Famer Frank Gifford had CTE in his brain

Former Giants player one of highest profile players to be connected with concussion-related brain disease

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-giant-frank-gifford-had-cte-in-his-brain/

For parents on the fence, it's time to get that puppy

Pediatricians weigh in on the benefits to kids from having a dog

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/for-parents-on-the-fence-you-may-want-to-get-that-puppy-now/

Advice for aging boomers: Let your pet carry some of the load

Movement to improve care for older pets has been going on for some time; but idea of training pets to help out aging baby boomers is relatively new

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/as-you-get-older-let-your-pet-carry-some-of-the-load/

Ecstasy victim's plea to avoid party drug goes viral

Young Australian posts stuttering, body-shaking video as a warning for would-be users

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/man-pleads-on-facebook-avoid-ecstasy/

Could My Medications Cause Vision Problems?

A lot of medications could affect your eyes. WebMD tells you how and what you can do about it.

From: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/medications-cause-vision-problems?src=RSS_PUBLIC

What do your eyes say about your health?

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul. But did you know they can also tell you a lot about your health? WebMD takes a look at some common eye conditions and what they say about your health.

From: http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/features/what-your-eyes-say-about-your-health?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Post-Op Bacterial Infection Ups Complications Risk

Clostridium difficile can be devastating to patients recovering from surgery, experts say

From: http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20151125/post-op-bacterial-infection-raises-odds-for-complications-death?src=RSS_PUBLIC

E. Coli Linked to Costco Chicken Salad Sickens 19

CDC still tracking down specific ingredient that may harbor the germ

From: http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/20151125/e-coli-linked-to-costco-chicken-salad-sickens-19-in-seven-states?src=RSS_PUBLIC

WHO launches toolkit to help countries respond to sexual violence

On 25 November, WHO joins partners in calling for the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls to ensure their health, well-being and human rights.

“WHO strongly condemns violence against women and girls and supports partners and countries’ efforts towards the de-normalization of this type of violence. Ensuring equality between women and men is a crucial part of these efforts,” said Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of WHO.

From: http://www.who.int/entity/mediacentre/news/notes/2015/sexual-violence-elimination/en/index.html

Women starting to match men's drinking habits

The gender gap in alcohol consumption is closing, new research shows, putting women's health at greater risk

From: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/women-starting-to-match-mens-drinking-habits/

As HMOs Dominate, Alternatives Get Costlier

A KHN analysis finds a sharp difference in premium prices between plans that offer out-of-network care and those that do not.

From: http://www.webmd.com/health-insurance/20151125/as-hmos-dominate-alternatives-become-more-expensive?src=RSS_PUBLIC

Your Memory Lives On; A Time of Remembrance

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_ecLBd7urE

Gluten in Makeup: Does it Matter?

From: Mayo Clinic http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGxjFx5eQF4

USDA Week In Review November 27

From: USDA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWuySjtYGyw

Constant Traffic Noise May Boost Depression Risk

Vulnerability is higher among those with a low education and income, researchers report

From: http://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20151125/constant-traffic-noise-may-boost-depression-risk?src=RSS_PUBLIC

The myth of the Hippocratic Oath

Soon after his shootout with police in 2013, one of the suspected Boston Marathon bombers was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries. A reporter covering the story described how, despite the heinous crimes of which he’d been accused, doctors would work hard to save his life because they’d taken an oath to do so. I knew she was referring to the Hippocratic Oath. But I also knew she was wrong.

There was a good chance that these doctors had never taken the Hippocratic Oath, but even if they had, there’s nothing in the oath that specifically obligates them to provide care for suspected criminals.

Perhaps it should, but it doesn’t.

In fact, the modern-day Hippocratic Oath covers only a few issues relevant to the ethical practice of medicine. It does cover some important stuff. Some of that stuff is controversial, and has been liberally revised. But plenty is simply left out from the original.

What is the Hippocratic Oath?

The Hippocratic Oath is named after the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates. He is widely considered to be its author, although its true origins are uncertain; it may have been written by one of his students or by more than one person. It represents a time-honored guideline for physicians and other healthcare professionals as they begin or end their training. By swearing to follow the principles spelled out in the oath, healthcare professionals promise to behave honestly and ethically.

Those taking the “original” Hippocratic Oath promise to:

respect and support their teachers
share medical knowledge with others who are interested
use their knowledge of medicine and diet to help patients
avoid harming patients, including providing no “deadly medicine” even if requested to do so
not provide a “remedy” that causes an abortion
seek help from other physicians (such as a surgeon) when necessary
avoid “mischief,” “injustice,” and “sexual relations” during visits to patients’ homes
keep patient information confidential.

More modern revisions have avoided any mention of abortion and, as in a popular 1964 revision (by Dr. Louis Lasagna, a physician at Johns Hopkins University), treated euthanasia with more nuance:

“…it may…be within my power to take a life; this awesome responsibility must be faced with great humbleness and awareness of my own frailty. Above all, I must not play at God.”

In addition, Dr. Lasagna encouraged a holistic and preventive approach to care:

“I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person’s family and economic stability. My responsibility includes these related problems, if I am to care adequately for the sick. I will prevent disease whenever I can, for prevention is preferable to cure.”

What’s missing?

Today’s doctors face a number of important ethical issues that are not included in the Hippocratic Oath. For example, it makes no mention of:

honoring patients’ preferences
sharing medical information with patients
avoiding conflicts of interest, such as profiting by ordering unnecessary tests or treatments
protecting patients who enroll in research studies
treating all patients equally, regardless of ability to pay, social class, education, race, or suspicion of criminality
avoiding the practice of medicine while impaired (due to physical or psychological disease).

Who takes the oath?

According to a 1989 survey, barely half of U.S. medical schools used any form of the Hippocratic Oath and only 2% used the original. In a 2011 study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, about 80% of practicing physicians reported participating in an oath ceremony, but only a quarter felt that the oath significantly affected how they practiced.

Beyond the Hippocratic Oath

In the United States, when newly matriculating medical students are draped in their freshly starched white coats, an oath of some kind is often read as part of the ceremony. But there is far more for these new trainees to learn and understand than a passage as brief or as ancient as the Hippocratic Oath could capture. Today, health professionals routinely encounter ethical challenges in modern clinical practice. Rather than rely on well-intentioned but outdated principles, they must call upon their experience and training, widely-accepted modern guidelines, the advice of mentors, and their personal sense of right and wrong to figure out what to do. Fortunately, there are many useful resources beyond the Hippocratic Oath to help guide them in the right direction.

The post The myth of the Hippocratic Oath appeared first on Harvard Health Blog.

From: Robert Shmerling, M.D. http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-myth-of-the-hippocratic-oath-201511258447

Statement from Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden on the Passing of Dr. D.D. Hardee

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2015—Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today released the following statement on the passing of Dr. D.D. “Dick” Hardee, the research entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service who led the team that developed the boll weevil pheromone trap that helped eradicate the pest from the U.S. Cotton Belt:

From: http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2015/11/0329.xml&contentidonly=true

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