Sir William Osler's philosophy on death
Article Abstract:
Sir William Osler was a physician and medical school professor whose humanitarian approach to death and dying should serve as a model for others. Osler did not approve of unnecessary drug use and agreed with Plato's belief that especially in old age, excessive treatment may prolong the patient's life at the expense of quality of life. Osler also believed that euthanasia, or mercy killing, was acceptable in some cases. To learn more about dying and how patients face death, he conducted a survey of 486 terminally ill patients. He observed that many hospital patients may wish to be left alone when dying and felt that health care workers should be careful of being too intrusive. He had an extensive library on immortality, longevity, suicide and related subjects and considered himself a student 'of the art and the act of dying.' He used his findings to help cope with his sons' death as well as his own.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1993
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Smallpox: the triumph over the most terrible of the ministers of death
Article Abstract:
The scientific contributions by Edward Jenner to the development of the smallpox vaccine are highlighted. Until the development of the smallpox vaccine, smallpox epidemics affected civilizations worldwide. Reports that milkmaids previously infected with cowpox were resistant to smallpox led Jenner to experiment with injecting cowpox lesion fluid into healthy individuals. Later challenges with smallpox injections resulted in immunity. Even though the initial response by the scientific community to Jenner's results was negative, his smallpox vaccine was soon used worldwide and he won many honors for his work.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 1997
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Death rates of people who carry the gene for ataxia-telangiectasia
Article Abstract:
People who have one copy of the gene mutation for ataxia-telangiectasia appear to have a higher death rate from cancer and heart disease than those with no gene mutation. Ataxia-telangiectasia is characterized by movement disorders, skin abnormalities, frequent respiratory infections and high rates of cancer. It only occurs in people who have two copies of the gene mutation.
Publication Name: Annals of Internal Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0003-4819
Year: 2000
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