What is it acceptable to die of?

health communication what it is and what is not

When is it socially acceptable to feel sick?

Disease is a ubiquitous and powerful evolutionary force. Hosts have evolved behavioural and physiological responses to disease that are associated with increased survival. Behavioural modifications, known as 'sickness behaviours', frequently involve symptoms such as lethargy, somnolence and anorexia. Current research has demonstrated that the social environment is a potent modulator of these be...

Is it acceptable for medical professionals to kiss paediatric patients?

It is human nature, perhaps more so for doctors and nurses, to comfort children in distress. Unfortunately, however, necessary medical procedures carried out by healthcare providers (eg, venipuncture) can often result in pain and discomfort, which may in turn cause the provider a degree of guilt and distress. Is it ever acceptable to comfort a paediatric patient with a kiss? This essay examines...

Is it ever enough to die of old age?

OBJECTIVE To determine how often 'old age' was given as a cause of death in patients presenting for cremation, with particular reference to their characteristics and the medical conditions known to the certifying doctor at the time of death. DESIGN Prospective review of all cremation papers presented to one crematorium over a two-year period. SETTING An English crematorium serving a populat...

Female sterilisation: is it what women really want or are alternative contraceptive methods acceptable?

OBJECTIVE An initial audit was conducted in 2001 to monitor all women referred for female sterilisation. This re-audit in 2003 set out to investigate those women who initially chose alternative reversible contraception and ascertain whether they were still using that method or if they or their partner had requested sterilisation. METHODS A telephone survey of general practitioners was conduct...