We’re terminally ill. Why won’t N.J. let my sister and me die in peace?

US – nj.com

My sister and I have lots in common, we always have.  We were both nurses for more than 25 years. We love cooking and seeing a good show.

Cancer treatment, palliative care to districts soon

India – The Hindu

To ensure that advanced cancer treatment and palliative care is available to people in the districts, the Telangana’s Aarogyasri Health Care Trust will be soon introducing a pilot programme in five district hospitals providing the treatment facilities.

Palliative care app for nurses out today

Australia – Community Care Review

Coinciding with International Nurses Day, Decision Assist has launched a new free app today, palliAGEDnurse, to help nurses working in community care, residential aged care and general practice care for older people with palliative care needs.

Québec: 50 euthanasia deaths in 5 months, no new commitment to palliative care

 Canada – NRL News Today

Five months after Québec’s euthanasia law went into effect, about fifty people have been euthanized, according to health Minister Gaetan Barrette, as reported in an article by Radio Canada that appeared in the Huffington Post website.

Better Care for Children with Shorter Lives is a good step

 Scotland – The Scotsman

The 2016 Scottish Parliament election has marked an important opportunity for CHAS to build on the work that contributed during the last parliament to the Health and Sport Committee’s inquiry We Need to Talk About Palliative Care, as well as the Scottish Government’s recent Strategic Framework for Action on Palliative and End of Life Care.

Woman who lost baby at 32 weeks calls for ‘first-class’ perinatal hospice care

UK – BBC

In this second part, a County Londonderry woman says first-class perinatal hospice services – care for unborn children with severe disabilities – must be a priority for the new Northern Ireland Executive.

Why many hospice doctors like me won’t participate in legal physician assisted suicide

US – Los Angeles Times

On June 9 California will join four other states Oregon, Washington, Vermont and Montana in allowing physician-assisted suicide. Meanwhile, my state, Arizona, and a dozen or so others are considering their own “right to die” laws. As a hospice physician, about twice a year I am asked by a patient to prescribe a lethal dose of a medication. Oncologists throughout the country report that up to half of their patients at least ask about it.

When do you give up on treating a child with cancer?

US – The New York Times Magazine

Andrew Levy’s parents knew that the rare and deadly cancer in his blood could not be beaten, so they began to prepare for the worst. Then something mysterious happened.

My mother’s treatment in hospital opened my eyes to a policy of shameful neglect

 UK – The Guardian

The first shock came when I found out my mother was dying. The second was when I discovered that she had been discharged from hospital without my knowledge. My mother was 89, and had dementia, lung cancer and secondary tumours on the brain. I had pleaded with the hospital not to take any decisions without first speaking to me, but they ignored me, as they had done since she was admitted as an emergency six days earlier.

Court not in business of ending life, judge says in case of disabled toddler

 Ireland – Breaking News

A High Court judge in England who has been asked to decide whether medics can provide only palliative care to a ”profoundly neurologically disabled” two-year-old boy has told the youngsters’ parents that she is not in the “business of ending life”.

Campaigner rallies doctors to oppose assisted death

New Zealand – nzDoctor.co.nz

A Wellington palliative care specialist says relaxing the laws on euthanasia and assisted suicide is dangerous and she is urging GPs and other doctors around the country to join a campaign opposing reforms.

‘I Don’t Want To Die’: The Other Impediment to Death with Dignity

US – Huffpost College

Movies and books like The Bucket List and Tuesdays with Morrie suggest that the terminally-ill will accept their impending demise. But Hollywood misses the mark.

Lack of hospital privacy compounds distress of unexpected pregnancy loss

ehospice Ireland

Dr Lucia Hartigan, Specialist Registrar and senior lecturer and consultant obstetrician Dr Keelin O’Donoghue, Cork University Maternity Hospital explain how some basic improvements to the physical setting have significantly improved privacy and confidentiality for women attending their unit.

Pam’s Story (with Dr André Nell)

ehospice South Africa

This is a glimpse into the personal story of one of South Coast Hospice’s beloved patients Pam Osborn.

New award celebrates greater openness around death and bereavement in Scotland

ehospice UK

As part of Death Awareness Week Scotland (9 to 15 May) the winners of a new national award, which recognises individuals’ contributions to promoting more open and supportive attitudes to death and bereavement, have been announced.

Pediatric bereavement and care, part 2

ehospice USA

A new edition of the free pediatric hospice and palliative care e-journal – that continues the discussion of pediatric bereavement and care – is available online.