Physician-assisted suicide

Physician-assisted suicide is a fatal medication prescribed by doctors to some one that is terminal ill. Currently it is legal in Oregon, Washington, and Montana. It has been conversable in the United States due to religious and other prohibitions. In order for the medication to be prescribed the patient must meet the following criteria:

1. The patients condition is intolerable with no hope for improvement.
2. No relief is available.
3. The patient is competent.
4. The patient makes a request repeatedly over time.
5. Two physicians have reviewed the case and agree with the patient's request. (Kail and Cavanaugh, 2007).

I personally do not no of anyone who has used this method to commit suicide. I personally was against it because of religious beliefs, but after researching the internet of personal physician-assisted suicide stories I had a change of heart. One personal story was of a women suffering from emphysema for 20 years. She underwent several treatments only for her condition to worsen and to become finically broken. The pain was intolerable, she was gasping for every breath of air, and she weighted less than 100 pounds. She was hooked up to IV's to keep her hydrated. I could see how someone wouldn't want to live anymore having to deal with these symptoms for 20 years. People that decide to go this route have often been through more than the average person could imagine

If I could do more research I would like to no more about the people that decided to go this route and than had a change of heart after receiving the medication. I wonder if they are glad they didn't follow though and what there quality of life was like at the end stages of there disease.  

THE AGING BRAIN; Alzheimer's Vaccine

I was really surprised in the article this week about the aging brain that there could possible be a vaccine for Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer's affects 1 out of 10 people over 65. It is a degenerative brain disease that causes mental and physical decline in brains ability to function.  A foreign intruder, beta-amyloid, causes plaque to build up around the neurons. This is the cause of Alzheimer's disease. In 2001 research had came up with a vaccine that causes the body to create antibodies to remove beta-amyloid. This vaccine could possible halt or cure Alzheimer's disease. The article also goes on about how anti-inflammatory, estrogen, and diet also may help prevent the disease, but I was amazed to find out that they could possible have a vaccine. Especially because I have never heard of it and this research was done 12 years ago.

I have worked with many adults and have seen my grandparents suffer from Alzheimer's disease. It is a sad situation when someone that is suffering from the disease does not recognize there own children or grandchildren. In my grandmas sittution I noticed the disease was a lot more noticable when she was under stress of tying to also take care of my grandpa. He was also suffering from the disease. After he passed away she was able to think a lot clearer, and had less clinical signs of the disease for a few years. So I think stress can progress the disease faster.

If I could do more research, I would investigate further on foods that may progress the disease. I think nutrition is key problem to a lot of disease that we see and could possible be a trigger to Alzheimer disease too.

Dual parent incomes

I found it interesting in this week’s podcast/ instructor’s notes that dual income families are actually found to be happier. It has been shown to reduce stress and increase mental and physical well-being. This is because a parent is able to compensate for un-happiness in one area by being successful in another area.  For example if a parent has a bad day at work then they can come home and feel satisfied by helping their family. Or vice-a-versa. It also improves their social well-being by being able to connect to others. Confidence is also increased by being successful in a career. It also helps the marriage by having similarity in life styles and being able to connect with each other.

I have been a stay at home for the last five years in till here recently. (Besides going to school). I love to be at home with my children but the burden of not being able to help out finically and not having a social life had brought me to the decision to go to school and then get a job. I love being able to go to work now and I feel like I appreciate my kids a little more when I get home after not being able to see them all day. My husband on the other hands doesn’t understand why I would want to work and wants me to watch our children, but to me I feel more independent, and happier working.

If I could research this more, I would like to know if the kids are happier because the parents are less stressed. I would think it would have a lot to do with if the child has a positive, loving caregiver in the absents of their parents.  

Emerging into Adult Hood

I found it interesting in this week’s topic how emerging adult hood is happening later in life than it did a few decades ago. This is considered the period of time between late teens and mid-to-late 20’s. It was common in the past for this to be the time where young adults got married and started having children in the Western culture. That has greatly been replaced with young adults using this time for identity exploration. Many young adults are now taking this time to educate, experience different career options, and gain a view point on the world. 

I think that this is a very important time for identity exploration. I know that I am grateful that I had this time to discover myself and my career. When I was in my early 20’s I thought that I wanted to become a Real Estate agent. I later decided that is not what I wanted to do and was able to go back to school to become a nurse. I am glad that I did this before I had two children, because then I don’t think it would be possible; finically and time wise with going to school and working. Even though I see a lot of mothers in their late teens and early 20’s accomplishing this, I personally don’t think I could.

Adolescents with eating disorders

I found it interesting how the video, ‘Advertising’s Image of Women: Killing Us Softly’, can be related to adolescents developing eating disorders. In the video it shows how the media is pressuring girls to be thin and beautiful from a very young age. This really starts to affect a girl’s self-esteem when she begins to go through puberty. I believe this is why adolescents are at greater risk for developing anorexia nervosa, and bulimia nervosa. Especially for girls, who make up 90% of the eating disorder population. It makes since you hardly ever see advertisements marketing to the male population.

The reason I picked this topic this week is because I watched a friend go through this in middle school, and it still is affecting her into adult hood. She was bulimic at first. I remember the first time I seen her throw up. We were on the bus at a volleyball game and one of the girls pointed out she was going to walk behind the tree and vomit. Most of the girls laughed and I was in shock and didn't know what to do; I guess no one understood how to help her. She continued to this for a couple years, and then she became anorexic. She became so thin she started losing her hair. It was not in-till several years of counseling and the desire to have a child that she let up on her starvation. Even after she had a child she went back to her old ways. The thing I don’t understand is that people that knew her condition was complementing her on her weight loss. I feel that there should be education and how to help your peers out in situations like that. Even today I don’t know what I could say to help her.

Parenting styles

I found it interesting how different parenting styles can have such dramatic effects on how a child might turn out. The book breaks down these styles into four categories; authoritarian parents are very strict and show little to no affection to their child. They do not take into consideration how their child feels. This can lead to poor self-esteem, depression, and the child could lack empathy. Permissive (indulgent) parents are very caring to their child but they do not set rules. The down side is that children are more likely to get into trouble and it may lead to substance abuse problems. Permissive parenting is almost as bad as the uninvolved parent. This can also cause a child to get into trouble and have substance abuse problems. The only difference is that permissive parenting can increase child’s self-esteem whereas the uninvolved parent can cause the child to have depression. The most effective style of parenting is the authoritative style. This is where there is lots of love but there are still consistent rules.

It made me think about a family that had authoritarian style parenting. They did not let their child have play dates except for special occasions. The child’s day was filled with school work and band practice and never let the child have any down time to do the things they wanted. It started to show the stress that was put on the child when would have break downs for no reason. I guess I just don’t see how parents think it’s okay to except so much out of a child. Maybe it’s their culture. I personally like to think of myself as an authoritative parent most of the time. There needs to boundaries and children need to know that they are loved.

How childs play effects their cognitive ability

I found it interesting in the article ‘Old-fashion play builds serious skills’, how 60 years ago children’s idea of play consisted mainly of using their imagination. For example playing pirates and princesses without having toys for props. In today’s society it is very rare to see children using their imagination; instead play usually revolves around a toy. This has changed how the mind develops. It decreases cognitive thinking and effects how children are able to self-regulate their emotions and behaviors.  This is because when children use their imagination they use ‘private speech’ to come up with rules to their own games.  This critical cognitive skill called executive function. 

I think today's life style has changed so much; not only how children play but how busy are life styles have become. Maybe parents don’t have enough time to take their children outdoors or don’t get them away from video games or computers enough. I think this is the case for many parents and if we had known  that we were neglecting our children of using their imagination and that it would have such negative consequences;  that we would encourage them to play outdoors more, and limit video games and computers. I know myself that I’m guilty of this. Right now my son is playing the Wii so I can have some quite time to write my paper, but I will try to work on it.

I think that this could be a cause of why ADHD has increased so dramatically in the United States. If children are losing their ability to concentrate and self-regulate; I think that there should be further research on why? ADHD research should be focused on the underlying problem, not on being so quick to prescribe medications.