One in five Dutch doctors would help physically healthy patients die
Almost one in five Dutch doctors would consider helping someone die even if they had no physical problems but were ‘tired of living’, according to one of the most comprehensive academic studies of such attitudes. The research, in which almost 1,500 GPs, geriatric care doctors and clinical specialists answered a detailed, anonymous survey, also found that 2% of them said they had taken part in such euthanasia or assisted suicide without medical grounds for a patient who was suffering, even though this is prohibited under Dutch law. The paper, published in the Journal of Medical Ethics, also found that 40% of the doctors said it was conceivable they would help someone in the early stages of dementia to die, while 3% had done so. Just over a third said they might also be willing to assist people with a psychiatric disease who wished to end their life.
WHO 'taken aback' by measles outbreaks
Measles vaccinations must be immediately stepped up across Europe and central Asia after a series of outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. Officials say they have been ‘taken aback’ by more than 22,000 cases in 2014 and the first months of this year. The WHO demands that countries control the outbreaks with ‘no exception’. It say the surges threaten the goal of eliminating measles in the region by the end of 2015. Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe, said: ‘When we consider that over the past two decades we have seen a reduction of 96% in the number of measles cases in the European region, and that we are just a step away from eliminating the disease, we are taken aback by these numbers. We must collectively respond, without further delay, to close immunisation gaps’
WHO 'taken aback' by measles outbreaks
Measles vaccinations must be immediately stepped up across Europe and central Asia after a series of outbreaks, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. Officials say they have been ‘taken aback’ by more than 22,000 cases in 2014 and the first months of this year. The WHO demands that countries control the outbreaks with ‘no exception’. It say the surges threaten the goal of eliminating measles in the region by the end of 2015. Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO regional director for Europe, said: ‘When we consider that over the past two decades we have seen a reduction of 96% in the number of measles cases in the European region, and that we are just a step away from eliminating the disease, we are taken aback by these numbers. We must collectively respond, without further delay, to close immunisation gaps’
Turkey gets first Christian TV station
SAT-7 TÜRK has become the first Christian channel on Turkey's national satellite. It has begun broadcasting on the government-regulated Türksat 4A satellite, meaning that it can now reach more than 50 million viewers across the country as well as other Turkish-speaking viewers around the world. Executive Director Melih Ekener has expressed his delight at the development. He said: ‘We are overwhelmed and truly believe it is a miracle that we can finally broadcast on Türksat. We have hoped, dreamed and prayerfully anticipated this launch since the station began airing on SAT-7 ARABIC in 2006. It is really a miracle and we are very thankful to God for what he has been doing. This would not have been possible without the Turkish authorities taking the time and interest to engage with Christians and accept our applications, granting us a frequency on the official state satellite. We praise God for this moment.
