Assisted Dying (Credit: Canva)
Terminally ill people in England and Wales could have the right to choose to end their life—a practice that is already legal in a few countries. Earlier this month, Labour MP Kim Leadbeater introduced the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which was voted upon recently. A separate but similar bill is under discussion in Scotland.
Assisted suicide is intentionally helping another person to end their life, which may not even require a terminal diagnosis but again it depends from place to place and condition to condition. That could involve providing lethal medication or helping them travel to another jurisdiction to die. However, the bill presented in UK clearly states that it will be used only for patients who are terminally ill and have less than 6 months to live.
How Is It Different From Euthanasia?
Euthanasia—also referred to mercy killing—is the practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. The legality of this practice varies across the globe, with a small number of countries permitting it under strict conditions. The list include Belgium, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Ecuador, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal and Spain.
At present, laws throughout the British territory prevent people from asking for medical help to die. However, the bill could change it. Here are the requirements of the proposed bill:
Anyone who wishes to end their lives, must be over 18 and live in England and Wales, and have been registered with a GP for at least 12 months
They must have the mental capacity to make the choice and be deemed to have expressed a clear, settled and informed wish, free from coercion or pressure
They will be expected to die within six months
Also, they need to make two separate declarations, witnessed and signed, about their wish to die
Finally, they need to satisfy two independent doctors that they are eligible - with at least seven days between each doctors' assessment
Moreover, a High Court judge must hear from at least one of the doctors, and can question the dying person, or anyone else considered relevant. After the judge has made their ruling, a patient would have to wait another 14 days before acting. Notably, it is completely illegal to pressurize someone to take their own lives. Anyone found to do could risk a 14-year prison sentence.
The bill is also facing considerable opposition. Opponents reportedly argue that legalizing assisted suicide could pressure vulnerable individuals into ending their lives. They urge the government to prioritize enhancing palliative care instead. Among those opposing the change is Paralympian and House of Lords crossbencher Baroness Grey-Thompson, who has voiced concerns over the potential risks of altering the law on assisted death.
Is It Different in Scotland?
Yes, the bill is slightly different in Scotland. A person calling for assisted suicide must be a resident of the country for at least 12 months. Additionally, they should be registered with a GP in Scotland, be terminally ill and must have the mental capacity to make the request.
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In a landmark decision, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of the SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) platform for patients with severe aortic stenosis who show no symptoms. This is the first-ever approval of TAVR therapy for asymptomatic patients, marking a significant shift in how this life-threatening condition may be treated going forward.
Aortic stenosis is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening, which restricts blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. In severe cases, the heart must work harder to pump blood, which can eventually lead to heart failure. While some patients experience chest pain, breathlessness, or fainting, others show no outward symptoms despite the seriousness of the condition.
The danger lies in the unpredictability—many asymptomatic patients may suddenly deteriorate, experiencing life-threatening events without warning. Until now, clinical guidelines advised “watchful waiting” for these patients, meaning treatment was delayed until symptoms appeared.
Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a minimally invasive procedure that replaces the narrowed aortic valve without the need for open-heart surgery. The SAPIEN 3 is a next-generation TAVR device developed by Edwards Lifesciences. It is inserted via a catheter, usually through the femoral artery in the leg, and guided to the heart, where it expands and takes over the function of the diseased valve.
SAPIEN 3 is already widely used in patients with symptomatic severe aortic stenosis. With this new FDA approval, its use extends to a new, broader population of asymptomatic patients.
The decision was largely based on findings from the EARLY TAVR trial, a randomized clinical study that enrolled over 900 patients with severe aortic stenosis who had no symptoms. Participants were divided into two groups: one received TAVR using the SAPIEN 3 valve, while the other was monitored with watchful waiting.
After a median follow-up of 3.8 years, the trial found that:
The FDA’s approval of the SAPIEN 3 platform for asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis patients could lead to changes in clinical guidelines, encouraging earlier evaluation and treatment.
“There is an urgent need to change practice and TAVR guidelines,” said Dr. Philippe Genereux of Morristown Medical Center, who was involved in the EARLY TAVR trial. He emphasized that patients who seem stable can become symptomatic without warning, and early TAVR offers an opportunity to improve outcomes and ease the burden on the health care system.
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Poultry-related outbreak has been on going in the US, especially with the ever on going bird flu. Recently, yet another outbreak has been associated with backyard poultry which has sickened at least seven people in six states. This is the new salmonella outbreak. The health officials have confirmed its news this Monday.
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), two cases were identified in Missouri, and one each in Florida, Illinois, South Dakota, Utah and Wisconsin.
The CDC noted that most people started falling sick in February and March of this year. All of them had the same strain of salmonella, which is a version that has been traced to hatcheries in the past. The health officials confirmed that investigation with regards to this recent outbreak is on going.
As per the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness and fever called salmonellosis. It can be spread by food handlers who do not wash their hands and/or the surfaces and tools they use between food preparation steps. It can also happen when people consume uncooked and raw food. Salmonella can also spread from animal to people.
FDA notes that people who have direct contact with certain animals, including poultry and reptiles can spread the bacteria from the animal to food if hand washing hygiene is not practiced.
Pets too could spread the bacteria within the home environment if they eat food contaminated with Salmonella.
Salmonella bacteria leads to infections in around 1.35 people in the United States, every year. However, the source does not always remain poultry. As per the CDC website Salmonella outbreaks previously have been linked with cucumbers, pet bearded dragons or gecko, eggs, small turtles, poultry, charcuterie meat, cantaloupes, diced onions, cookie dough, and flour.
The biggest concern with backyard poultry is that even if the chickens look clean and healthy, they could still carry salmonella bacteria. A backyard poultry associated outbreak which ended last year caused 470 cases, which were spread across 48 states and including one death.
FDA notes that most people infected with Salmonella will begin to develop symptoms 12 to 72 hours of the infection, which lasts for about four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment.
As per the CDC, each year, around 450 people diet in the United States due to acute salmonellosis.
Children who are younger than five and the elderly, and people with weakened immune system could be more at risk to have severe salmonellosis infections.
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United States is experiencing its deadliest flu season for children in 15 years, according to a federal report released Friday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 216 pediatric deaths so far this flu season—surpassing last year's 207 fatalities and marking the highest number since the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic.
The season is not yet over, making this already grim milestone even more concerning. In fact, the final death toll for the 2023-2024 flu season won’t be confirmed until later this year. "This number that we have now is almost certainly an undercount,” said Dr. Sean O’Leary of the American Academy of Paediatrics. “When the season is declared over, and they compile all the data, it’s almost certain to go up.”
O’Leary, who is also a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at the University of Colorado, pointed to declining flu vaccination rates among children as a key factor in this season’s severity. Over the past five years, the flu vaccination rate for children in the U.S. has dropped from about 64 per cent to just 49 per cent.
While flu vaccines do not always prevent infection, they are highly effective at reducing hospitalisations and deaths. "Flu vaccinations may not prevent people from coming down with symptoms, but research shows they are highly effective at preventing hospitalisations and deaths," O’Leary said.
This flu season has proven severe not only for children but for the general population as well. CDC estimates indicate at least 47 million illnesses, 610,000 hospitalisations, and 26,000 deaths so far. Among 5,200 adults hospitalised with the flu, 95 per cent had at least one pre-existing condition. In contrast, among 2,000 hospitalised children with more detailed health data, only about 53 per cent had underlying health issues such as asthma or obesity.
The CDC report did not include information on how many of the children who died had received the flu vaccine. Additionally, the agency did not provide a spokesperson to discuss the current season’s trends.
There is, however, a positive sign: flu activity has been declining since February. Last week, all 50 states reported low or minimal flu activity. The season also saw an unusual mix of circulating strains, with both H1N1 and H3N2 Type A viruses contributing significantly to infections. Earlier CDC data suggested that the flu vaccines offered this season were relatively effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths.
The CDC continues to advise that everyone aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine.
The broader decline in childhood vaccinations is being fueled by online misinformation and the politicisation of vaccines, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who recently assumed the role of U.S. health secretary, has echoed antivaccine rhetoric, further influencing public opinion.
According to O’Leary, other factors may also be impacting flu vaccination rates. Pediatric clinics are often short-staffed and no longer holding as many after-hours vaccination events. Additionally, while more Americans are getting vaccinated at pharmacies, some drugstores do not offer flu shots for children.
"My hope is that this season will be a bit of a wake-up call for folks—that we actually do need to vaccinate our kids against influenza," O’Leary said.