If For the record
One of the many tragedies that unfolded after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast was the loss of medical records for countless people. In addition to being without water, food, and shelter, survivors had to cope with the task of piecing together their medical histories as well as their lives.
Many of those who were unable to evacuate before the hurricane struck were the elderly, the seriously ill, the poor, and the poorly educated. They were ill equipped to explain their medical situation — their prescriptions and illnesses — to an ever-changing rotation of volunteer physicians at makeshift shelters. Some were in the middle of complicated therapies for cancer and found themselves at a complete loss after hospitals and clinics were flooded and their records destroyed.
The federal government thinks all this could have been avoided by having all medical records computerized so they are accessible in an emergency, even if the patient is far from home or their doctor’s office no longer exists. The government’s goal is to see this accomplished within 10 years.
After the ensuing chaos following that hurricane, this idea may sound like a winner. But like everything that happened in Louisiana and its neighboring states before and after Katrina, this issue needs to be examined more closely.
Giving up our right to medical privacy should not be done lightly. We should have a voice in such a monumental change and be able to decide when — or if — this is an appropriate action.
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Add some spice
Q: My wife’s cancer recently returned. She just started chemotherapy a few days ago and she is having major problems with sickness. Do you have any suggestions as to what she could do to reduce the nausea so that she can eat?
JVW: Have your wife try ginger, which has been used for centuries in India and China to combat nausea. The root has proven its value time and again in settling a queasy stomach brought on by a variety of conditions such as motion sickness, surgery, pregnancy, and chemotherapy.
Even during the Middle Ages people were aware of its remarkable usefulness, using this natural remedy as a treatment for nausea, hangovers, and flatulence. It can be used as both a preventive measure and as a treatment for nausea.
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What is…motion sickness?
Motion sickness is a disorder that occurs when the vestibular system — part of the inner ear that controls balance — is overstimulated, leading to a feeling of disorientation. Symptoms can be as mild as an upset stomach or severe enough to induce vomiting, dizziness, sweating, and loss of balance and coordination. It can occur on a plane, or in a boat, car, or amusement park ride.
Yours in good health,
Amanda Ross
Editorial Director
Nutrition & Healing
Sources:
“Katrina shows need to computerize records,” Associated Press, 9/13/05
