| May / June 2004 Articles in this issue are:
COMPASSION IN CRISIS These women are often very alone in their decision. A girl in an unplanned pregnancy is usually in a no-win situation. If she has the abortion, she exposes herself to the medical / psychological complications; if she goes full term and gives the child up for adoption, she feels she betrayed her child; and if she keeps the baby she may have to quit her studies and look for a job. Doctors For Life (DFL) has learned the importance of giving such a mother a long term perspective by helping her see that though abortion may appear to be a quick fix, the price she will have to pay in the long term is simply not worth it. Many calls are received via DFL’s 24hr Careline (073 224 9221). It is unbelievable how often mothers are ill informed, even about the humanity of the unborn child. During a recent outreach to abortion clinics three girls visited this clinic. One of them was pregnant. The volunteers simply gave her the medical facts about the unborn child and she decided against an abortion On another occasion, a team noticed a young man and woman in deep debate outside an abortion clinic. One of the volunteer gave them a pamphlet. “You’ll find the answer here”, she said. Shocked that someone had noticed their need, the couple explained their dilemma. The girl was pregnant and they were considering an abortion because they were still students. The volunteer went through the pamphlet with them. On follow-up, their decision against abortion was confirmed DFL receives countless on-site reports and phone calls that confirm all we read about in studies, reports and books; that many mothers suffer from post abortion syndrome or edical complications; while the majority require further information and knowledge to make an informed decision at the time of the abortion We are thankful that DFL has been able to meet the demand in about 180 cases in the past year and approximately 16 babies lives were saved. For enquiries contact: ronell@dfl.org.za Ronell Carstensi
Co-ordinator, 11th Hour Counselling HOME BASE CARE AT TUGELA FERRY Early in 1997, a small circle of rural doctors sat under a tree drinking tea while taking a short break from the mad rush of hospital work in an isolated rural area in Kwazulu-Natal . The usual topics discussed could have fallen out of the latest Getaway magazine, but that day was different. Speculation on where this new animal called AIDS would take us, and how we would cope with the fast increasing number of patients was being considered. Could partnership with the community improve care of terminal patients? Today, Home Based Care (HBC) is not a new concept. The greatest question faced was whether it was possible to implement it in a poorly resourced rural area. I can now tell you that the answer is, “Yes”. We target the respected, established “mamas” in the community whose children have left home. Over the past 2 years, more than 200 “Carers” were trained and gained the knowledge and skills to care for dying AIDS patients in their homes using the resources at hand. Each Carer receives an identification badge and HBC kit. They are volunteers accepted as part of the hospital team and are allocated 3 patients to visit twice a week to give advice and mobilise available resources. About 250 patients are cared for at any given time; it can be likened to a huge ward covering the whole community, with the Carers as nurses.
Although the Carer cannot solve all the problems, he/she is the first link in the network of referral which usually includes a multi disciplinary team made up of a pastor, doctor, social worker, legal adviser, hospice and so on. All of this is co-ordinated by the HBC Supervisor, who is based at the hospital. The Carer has valuable information about local needs, who the potential orphans are and recognise when things go wrong. While being instrumental in organising grants for patients, the Carer gains great respect from the community. The Carers are also well-informed spokespeople who are able to work towards the elimination of misconceptions about HIV in society. HBC is about bringing general medical care into patients’ homes with professional back-up available. The bottom line is that patients are cared for.
Dr Tony Moll
“…Whatever is pure… dwell on such things” n this issue of the DFL Newsletter, we focus on Dr John Wayne Banks of The Accident and Emergency Unit, Cosmos Hospital, Witbank. His qualifications are MBChB; MCPP, Dip Fam. Med. and Dip PEC. Dr Banks is especially interested in Emergency Medicine, while he sees dealing with self-inflicted harm such as injuries due to substance abuse as an important aspect of medicine in SA. He strives to make a difference in peoples’ lives. He feels concerned with the proposed legislation in dispensing pharmaceuticals and the ‘certificate of need’ to practice in certain areas. Nonetheless, Dr Banks says, “We should carry on with our work, though, and see what the future holds.” He believes the way to cope with the AIDS epidemic is PREVENTION, but “Unfortunately many people place the emphasis on anti-retrovirals instead of behaviour change as a means of controlling the epidemic.” Dr Banks decided to join DFL because he believes there is a great need in the medical profession to stand for what is morally right. As he explains, members should uphold the organisation’s three principles: standing for the sanctity of life, sound science and a basic Christian ethic, as well as, “participating in recruiting new members, writing articles and attending the DFL Conferences.” Dr Banks’ advice to medical students and/or doctors is taken from Phil. 4:8 “Whatever is true, is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – dwell on such things.” Dr. John Banks We must be free to go to the Lord with all our needs. In the parable of the widow who persisted in asking for justice, our Lord taught us not to stop asking. Yet, we must also be content with such things as we have. Self can creep into our prayers and soon we are no longer serving the Lord, but have subtly made Him our servant. When that happens our prayers centre on God making life more comfortable for us. In Ps. 78:18-20 we read how Israel crossed that line in the desert and became ease-loving:“...They tested God in their heart by asking for the food of their fancy.” They said, “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Behold, he struck the rock, so that waters gushed out, and streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?” Sometimes we are so aware of our desire for “meat” that we do not see the miracles of the “manna” and the “gushing waters” that God has already performed for us. “Be...content with such things as you have: for He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’.” Hebrews13:5 Dr Albu van Eeden Jane Roe Wants To Overturn Roe Versus Wade...
Norma McCorvey, the Jane Roe in Roe versus Wade, (which brought about the legalisation of abortion on demand in 1973 in the USA ) is now pro-life and would like to see an end to abortion. She has filed a motion with a federal district court to overturn the 1973 decision. Her argument is that scientific and anecdotal evidence collected over the past 30 years indicates that abortion harms women. The evidence includes court affidavits from over a 1000 women who regret their abortions. Some pro-life legal experts do not think Norma has much of a chance, but the Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals has agreed to hear her case, increasing her odds of succeeding. Reported by Life Issues International: (http://www.lifeissues.org/Radio/r2004/03/03-03-04.htm).
Finland Prepares Complete Ban On Sex For Sale
Justice Minister Johannes Koskinen said in a statement on 7 March 2004 that Finland is preparing for a complete ban on the purchase of sexual services. In 2003 Finland outlawed commercial sex workers who work on the streets. Agence France-Presse 7/Mar/04 reported in Push Journal 08/Mar/04 . Mice Produce Sperm From Monkeys Dr David Whitehouse has reported in BBC News that mice have been used to produce viable monkey sperm using tissue transplanted from the testes of macaques. The US scientists involved say their work might one day help to conserve animals that are facing extinction. It might also be possible to grow human sperm in mice, although the team agrees this would be a controversial move. The researchers from the Universities of Pennsylvania and California report their studies in the latest issue of the Biology of Reproduction Journal. The procedure involves transplanting a tiny amount of testicular tissue from an immature rhesus macaque monkey under the skin of a lab mouse. After seven months, the testes grafts on the backs of the mice were seen to produce viable sperm. The technique is also expected to work on adult testis grafts. (Http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/science/nature/3458533.stm)
Oral Sex And STDs In a 1990’s survey in the USA , unmarried persons and college students were considered more likely to say that they practised oral sex. It was discovered that the practice has become increasingly common among young people, including teenagers who have never had vaginal sex. 1 What are the risks involved with oral sex? A wide variety of STD’s can be spread through oral sex. It is an efficient way to transmit syphilis, and has played n important role in a number of recent syphilis outbreaks in the USA.3,4,5
Both HSV-1 and HSV-2 (Herpes simplex-1 & 2) are viruses easily spread through oral sex. In one study of STD clinic attendees, those who had had oral sex during the preceding two months were three times more likely to have contracted genital HSV-1 than HSV-2. In the past, most genital infections were caused by HSV-2.6 In another study of persons attending a STD clinic, women who practised oral sex were three times more likely to have chlamydia in their throats than other women.7 Transmission of HIV also occurs during oral sex. Recent estimates of the proportion of new HIV cases attributable to oral sex range from less than 1%8 to 7%.9 Oral sex appears to be a sexual activity that puts participants at risk of contracting a number of STD’s. References:
Sex, Condoms & STDs: What We Now Know
Some of the key findings of the Medical Institute’s Report on Sex, Condoms & STDs (Published in 2003, USA ) follow:
How effective are condoms as protection against the contraction of other STDs?
Some of the key findings of The Medical Institute in the USA ’s report, Sex, Condoms & STDs: What We Now Know (published in 2003),
Terri Schiavo's Ordeal Continues
On her husband, Michael Schiavo's orders, Terri has been isolated from her parents and siblings for ovr a month, confined to a small Hospice room. For those who may not recall the controversy, Terri is the cognitively disable woman who is the subject of bitter right-to-live case in Clearwater, DFlorida. Michael remains in charge of her care, even though he long ago abonded his marriage. Terri is not terminally ill, yet Schiavo is trying hard to end her life by depriving her of food and water. Terri's parents' attorney, Pat Anderson, has nmow filed a crucial motion challenging Michael's authority to isolate Terri from her parents, based on his lack of legal authority in light of the absence of a court approved guardian plan. Extract from, NewsMax, Phil Brennan,04/29/2004 & The Assult on Terri Schiavo Continues, Wesley J. Smith, 04/30/2004
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