Physician-Assisted Death in the Renal Unit? A special four-part series on the various struggles physicians face with the legalization of Physician-Assisted Death. PART ONE Withdrawal from Dialysis: The HRH Experience Presented by Dr. Rauf Sirman Dr. Sirman presents the psychiatric cases of two renal patients. He describes the psychic makeup of a renal patient requesting dialysis cessation, and [...]
A poem by Linda L. Dowd R.N. Reeling images of long ago are cascading through my mind, Picture-perfect in retrospect, ~ Memories intertwined. I pay no heed to pains of past, nor to regrets or sorrows, For they'd impinge upon todays and darken my tomorrows. I fill my mind with pleasant thoughts, [...]
Do aging couples impact each other’s physical and mental well being? Studies show that as we age in relationships, we become more biologically attuned to our partners. Sharing an environment and making cooperative lifestyle decisions can lead to a couple experiencing similar emotional and physical health effects that manifest themselves as biological similarities. These similarities [...]
With the recent legalization of physician-assisted death in Canada, what’s next? The legislation of physician-assisted death has Canadian provinces and territories scrambling to formulate the legal rules and regulations for providing this care. Health care professionals are committed first and foremost to improving and maintaining their patients' quality quantity of life, which poses serious concerns around the philosophical, [...]
If placing a bandaid on a cut is automatic, why do we neglect our psychological health? Guy Winch believes that psychological wounds are just as painful as physical injuries. See his TED talk, "Why we all need to practice emotional first aid", for insightful advice on dealing with the insecurities we all face in times of hardship.
For many, getting well is often only half the battle with depression. Staying well is what proves to be the real challenge. Depression is all too common, especially in those struggling with medical illness or their caregivers. When it does occur, it can be episodic and recurrent. Mindful-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a psychological therapy [...]
By Linda L. Dowd RN Whenever my health issues begin to overwhelm me, I sing the lyrics from the movie "Annie" ~ "The sun will come out tomorrow..." I have always been of the mindset that even behind the darkest clouds the sun is shining. I am a believer in the validity of many sayings ~ [...]
The role of the caregiver can be quite onerous, supporting and advocating for a loved one without pause. These activities can become very tiring, without necessarily receiving the reciprocal support which would refuel an individual. As well, there may be feelings of guilt in being the healthy one, with no room for voiced complaints. This [...]
The Canadian Association of Nephrology Dietitians (CAND) just released a renal cookbook that both patients and clinicians will find very helpful. CAND's Kidney Friendly Cooking cookbook is a collection of 192 recipes written by a team of renal dietitians and is designed for use by people at all stages of kidney function. The introduction provides a description of the elements of a [...]
Informal caregivers refer to friends and family who provide support to individuals that are unable to function independently. There are at least 8.1 million Canadians providing care to family and friends with long term health conditions, disabilities or aging needs. These informal caregivers account for over $25 billion in unpaid labor to the health care [...]
Living day-to-day with dialysis creates a “new normal”, coloured by intense experiences of isolation, depression, and anger. Angela L. Davis started on thrice weekly hemodialysis in January 2008. In her eloquent post, Ms. Davis discusses her struggles with isolation brought on by the loss of friends and the body changes associated with illness. She also [...]
By Norman B. Levy Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Departments of Medicine and Psychiatry | Associate Director, Medical-Psychiatric Liaison Service | State University of New York | Downstate Medical Center | Brooklyn, New York As its name indicates, “psychonephrology” explores the psychological impact of kidney disease and focuses particularly on patients receiving kidney transplants or [...]
Psychonephrology Lecture Series | Thursday 22 October 2015 | Park Hyatt Hotel | Toronto, Canada Presented by Lewis Cohen, MD Professor of Psychiatry, Tufts University | Director, Renal Palliative Care Initiative, Baystate Medical Center | Boston MA Dr. Cohen has published and lectured extensively on palliative care topics in patients on or starting dialysis therapy. In this [...]
While medication, psychotherapy, diet, and exercise are important tools and can be effective in managing anxiety, depression, and pain, mindfulness has been medically proven as an effective way to lessen these problems. Think of it as a complementary form of medicine, originally developed in the Buddhist Traditions. Jon Kabat-Zinn, who founded the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction [...]
Book Review Coming Soon | Until Further Notice, I am Alive by Tom Lubbock A famous art critic and illustrator, Tom Lubbock wrote his memoir on living life after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. This upcoming feature will be preceded by our review of The Iceberg, an award-winning memoir written from the perspective of his wife, Marion Coutts, an internationally [...]
