Literature Review

Will Assisted Dying in Europe impact Living With Dignity? Medscape, by Sara Freeman; 4/17/24 BUDAPEST — Only a handful of European countries have legislation in place that decriminalizes the act of physician-assisted dying for certain patients, such as those who are terminally ill. But in recent months, public debates on the topic have been on the rise. ... This was a topic of discussion at the annual meeting of the 32nd European Congress of Psychiatry (EPA 2024) in a session titled "Psychiatry and Physician-Assisted Dying: Europe — Is Diversity Needed?" [Click on the title's link for summaries about the following countries.]

Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive that is youer than you. — Dr. Seuss

Longview Marines honored for helping fellow veterans during their time in hospice care CBS 19 Tyler, TX; by Alan Kasper and Zak Wellerman; 4/18/24 A Longview hospice took time to recognize some very valuable volunteers Wednesday afternoon. Members of AccentCare Hospice & Palliative Care in Longview honored two Marines Corp. veterans who volunteer their time and help fellow veterans going through hospice care. Vietnam War veterans Jim Jones and Will Haggard have spent the past 12 years as part of a contingent from the Longview Marine Corp League, meaning they help make their last moments better for those in hospice care. ... Pam Fletcher, AccentCare Hospice executive director, said the hospice facility appreciates having volunteers like Jones, Haggard and others. 

'The Grief Lady:' NC woman uses mother's funeral flowers to create art, help others heal WRAL News, Raleigh, NC; by Heather Leah; 4/18/24 Grief is a journey--and you never know for sure where it'll take you. When Janet Willis' mom passed away from small cell lung cancer in her 70s, Willis said she felt like she lost more than a mother; she lost a piece of herself. The loss launched her on a 100 day journey, creating art with the dried flower petals saved from her mother's funeral and sharing her grief experience with her followers. Each day she created a new piece of art – and each day it's as much a surprise for her as it is for her viewers. Editor's Note: Click on the title's link to view photos and read more of this inspiring story.

The Promise and Pitfalls of AI in Medicine: Guest Bob WachterGeriPal Podcast, by Eric Widera and Alex Smith, with Bob Wachter; 4/18/24Our guest today is Bob Wachter, Chair of Medicine at UCSF and author of the Digital Doctor: Hope, Hype, and Harm at the Dawn of Medicine’s Computer Age.  Bob recently wrote an essay in JAMA on AI and delivered a UCSF Grand Rounds on the same topic.Publisher's note: An interesting exchange. With apologies for the lenght, this portion of the transcript caught my eye:

UnitedHealth posts $1.4B loss in Q1 following Change cyberattack Becker's Payer Issues, by Jakob Emerson; 4/16/24 UnitedHealth Group posted a $1.4 billion net loss in the first quarter of 2024 following the sale of its Brazil operations and the unprecedented cyberattack on its Change Healthcare subsidiary in late February. Despite the losses, the company beat investor expectations and shares rose more than 6% to above $474, the Wall Street Journal reported. ... To date, the company has provided over $6 billion in advance payments to providers.

One-third of West Virginians may soon have a harder time getting health care after lawmakers declined to fully fund Medicaid Mountain State Spotlight, by Erin Beck; 4/18/24Across West Virginia, it’s already hard for many people to access health care. And unless state lawmakers change the budget they passed last month, it’s about to get even more difficult, especially for people who live in the most rural areas and those considered lower income. Starting in July, at the start of the next fiscal year, West Virginia officials will be forced to dramatically cut the state’s Medicaid budget. Roughly one-third of the state’s population relies on the government health insurance program. ... [Lawmakers] gave the program about $150 million less than was needed. 

[Sample] Letter: Hospice workers deserve thanks during Volunteer Appreciation Month Commonwealth Ripon Press (Ripon, WI), Letter to the Editor by Meredith Schluter; 4/18/24April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and I want to attest to the incredible impact that caring volunteers make in the lives of others in our community. Compassus Hospice in Neenah is an organization that cares for individuals experiencing life-limiting illnesses. ... From directly interacting with patients and families to working with care team members behind the scenes to help operations run smoothly, [volunteers] provide a vital service. The nationwide impact of hospice volunteers is just as significant. According to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Association, volunteers care for more than 1.5 million hospice patients each year, totaling millions of hours of care annually.Editor's Note: How are you expressing appreciation for your volunteers? This "Letter to the Editor" creates community awareness and provides a call for new volunteers. You have 11 more days to continue April's Volunteer Appreciation Month. What have you done? What more can you do?

[Virginia] Marijuana advocates celebrate passing of medicinal use billABC TV 13 News - Lynchburg, VA; by Brittany Slaughter; 4/15/24Virginia NORML is celebrating a win following Governor Youngkin's signing of a bill that expands medical marijuana use protections to public employees, not just private. JM Pedini, Development Director for NORML said a large benefactor from the bill's passage is firefighters who have faced repercussions for legally using weed medically. ... Pedini who also serves as the Executive Director of the State Chapter of Virginia NORML said the original law inadvertently left out public employees when passed in 2021.Editor's Note: Virginia NORML is the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Death is a part of life – so let's talk about itNow Then - A Magazine for Sheffield [UK], by Sam Walby; 4/17/24 The Sheffield Life, Loss and Death Festival takes place this May with a mission to break through taboos, awkwardness and anxiety about death and dying. Here's why it's important. Death is universal. We will all die and we are all likely to experience grief at the loss of loved ones. So why are we so squeamish about talking about it? ... The festival, which comes to Sheffield this May, uses all kinds of event formats and venues to engage people in the topic, from exhibitions and 'death cafes' to music performances and open mics.

New hospice care facility set to open its doors in Virginia Beach13NewsNow, Virginia Beach; 4/16/24, updated 4/17/24 ... The growing need for hospice care was addressed in Old Dominion University's "The State of the Region" report, which noted that Hampton Roads needs 45 beds to care for thousands of residents with life-limiting illnesses every year. ... Dozoretz [Hospice House of Hampton Roads] will provide 12 beds, as well as a bereavement center and grief support groups for families. ... The City of Virginia Beach donated 2.5 acres of land on Upton Drive for the $10,930,000 project. ... Construction on the facility began in March 2023. A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for next week. ... The senior living community Westminster-Canterbury on Chesapeake Bay is partnering with Beth Sholom Village to operate and manage the hospice house.

Care for Alzheimer's on Medicaid is unorganized, frustrating, inhumanThe Indianapolis Star, by Darcy Metcalfe; 4/14/24What it is like to die of Alzheimer’s in America? Without a doubt, it is nothing as it is portrayed on NBC’s hit series This is Us. At the end of this series, the character Rebecca dies from Alzheimer’s and falls peacefully asleep, snuggly tucked in her warm bed at home, surrounded by family and 24-hour skilled nursing care. Throughout the six seasons of This is Us, I simultaneously witnessed my father’s slow dying from Alzheimer’s in a reality that was worlds away from Rebecca’s. ...

Health care workers aid community members with end-of-life care directives The Journal - Martinsburg, WV; by Tom Markland; 4/16/24Health care workers from Berkeley Medical Center and Hospice of the Panhandle came together on Tuesday to help members of the community learn and assemble various advanced directives concerning end-of-life care. According to a study by the University of Chicago, only 22% of U.S. adults have completed any advanced directive for their end-of-life care. Tuesday’s event aimed to help boost that that number in the Eastern Panhandle. As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday afternoon, more than 35 people had been through the program, completing paperwork for their medical power of attorney, living will or both for free.Editor's Note: We thank and celebrate all hospice and palliative organizations that participated in the National Healthcare Decisions Day, Tuesday April 16, 2024! Collectively, what supportive connections you have made. Individually for each person and with their families, these conversations and advance directives will continue to unfold through years ahead, when needed most.