EXCLUSIVE Tragic twist of fate that set Ananda Lewis and countless others on path of deadly alternative cancer treatments
A Covid-era rule may have played a role in the tragic death of former MTV star Ananda Lewis who lost a seven-year battle with breast cancer this week at age 52.
Lewis - who rose to fame as a video jockey for MTV - revealed last year that she was unable to get a mastectomy during lockdown in 2020 because California hospitals deemed it a non-emergency.
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The Independent
35 minutes ago
- The Independent
Fears assisted dying bill could be defeated as MPs warn ‘tide is turning'
There are growing fears Kim Leadbeater's assisted dying bill could be defeated when it returns to the Commons next week, as MPs claim confidence in it is rapidly being lost. The warning comes as Ms Leadbeater suffered her first major defeat on Friday, after MPs voted to introduce new safeguards to prevent health professionals raising the subject of assisted dying with children. They voted 259 in favour and 216 against an amendment tabled by Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier stating 'no health professional shall raise assisted dying with a person under 18'. It is understood Ms Leadbeater didn't support the amendment because she agrees with the British Medical Association, which has said doctors should not be put in the position where they are barred from raising it with patients. It comes amid concerns that if people under 18 with terminal illnesses are unable to get the advice they want from their doctor, they will turn to the internet, where they are more likely to be subject to misinformation. Labour MP Paul Waugh told The Independent that today's voting shows the bill has 'rapidly lost the confidence of MPs', adding that the 'strong momentum against it is now clear'. 'It had a Commons majority of 56 last November. That was cut to 36 last month on a key amendment. Today, we saw a further cut of the majority to 21 and 26 on amendments. And the final vote - a big defeat for the proposer of the bill by 43 votes - just underlined how uncomfortable MPs are.' Mr Waugh added: 'The more the scrutiny of this particular bill, the more MPs have deep concerns about its lack of safeguards for the vulnerable.' But sources close to Ms Leadbeater insisted there is no reason to believe momentum is being lost, pointing out that the decline in majorities came as a result of fewer MPs attending the debate overall. It is understood that Ms Leadbeater is confident that support for it remains strong. Kit Malthouse, who supports the bill said: "The evidence from today is that our numbers held strong. Our majority proportionally was the same. On one vote, where a fine judgment was required, obviously views of colleagues differed. But if anything, that would probably strengthen their conviction to vote for the bill, having supported us in other votes.' Danny Kruger, who has been a vocal opponent of the bill, said he is 'increasingly hopeful' it will be voted down next week. 'The tide is turning on the Assisted Suicide Bill', he said. While he described the success of the amendment to prevent health professionals from raising the subject of assisted dying with children as a 'big victory', he warned that the bill is 'still way too open to abuse'. Rachael Maskell, who is against the bill, added: 'It is clear that now MPs are engaging in the detail of the Bill that they can see the cracks and are losing confidence'. 'A very different picture was painted today to when the Bill passed with 56 votes in the autumn to an amendment passing by 43 votes today against the will of the Bill's sponsor. MPs now need to engage with the evidence which clearly sets out why this particular Bill is not fit for purpose', she told The Independent. But pro-assisted dying sources pointed out that people on both sides of the debate voted to support the extra safeguards for children. Debating the amendment, Dr Neil-Shastri-Hurst MP, a medical doctor, said: 'Those who have had the privilege of meeting a young person living with a terminal illness will know that they often display a maturity and a depth of understanding far beyond their years. 'To deny them the opportunity of a considered conversation about their future upon reaching adulthood is not an act of compassion, in my view; it is to abandon them. 'It is to leave them isolated, navigating a complex and deeply personal journey through the filter of online forums, rather than in dialogue with trusted, qualified professionals. We owe them better than that.' Opinion in the medical community has been divided over the bill, with the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and Royal College of Psychiatrists (RCPsych) expressing concern, while some MPs who are doctors are among the Bill's strongest supporters. Seven RCPsych members, including a former president and vice president, have written to MPs to distance themselves from their college's concern, instead describing the Bill as 'workable, safe and compassionate' with a 'clear and transparent legal framework'. Meanwhile, Claire Macdonald, director of My Death, My Decision said 'no-one should be forced to suffer, and the British public wants politicians to change the law on assisted dying'. In a letter to MPs this week, Ms Leadbeater said supporters and opponents appear in agreement that 'if we are to pass this legislation, it should be the best and safest Bill possible'. She added: 'I'm confident it can and will be.' The proposed legislation would allow terminally-ill adults in England and Wales, with fewer than six months to live, to apply for an assisted death, subject to approval by two doctors and a panel featuring a social worker, senior legal figure and psychiatrist. MPs are entitled to have a free vote on the Bill and any amendments, meaning they vote according to their conscience rather than along party lines.
The Independent
41 minutes ago
- The Independent
Health Minister and professional bodies give support to international colleagues
Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt and the heads of professional bodies have voiced their support for international colleagues in Northern Ireland. It comes after a week of scenes of disorder, mainly in Ballymena following an alleged sexual assault at the weekend in the Co Antrim town, and attacks on homes. Mr Nesbitt said actions in recent days will have left some health and social care workers feeling frightened and vulnerable. 'It is well accepted within health and social care (HSC) that without our international colleagues, the health service would collapse,' he said. 'The international recruits who arrive to work here across our HSC system provide an immensely valuable contribution to the delivery of health and social care services, and enrich our communities with their diversity.' He added: 'I have had the privilege of meeting healthcare staff right across Northern Ireland, including many of our internationally-recruited colleagues who have brought their skills, experience and expertise to our health service. 'They are greatly needed, very much appreciated and highly valued. They are deeply welcome here and their health, safety and wellbeing are of paramount importance. ' People should be entitled to live in peace, free from harm and intimidation, and I stand against this reprehensible, racist and xenophobic behaviour.' In a joint statement, the chief professional officers, including chief medical officer Sir Michael McBride, said the 'appalling and violent scenes of recent days are nothing short of shameful'. 'That people should be targeted and threatened simply because of their ethnicity, skin colour or cultural background is utterly despicable,' they said. 'That they should be intimidated out of their own homes is vile. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and to live in a safe environment free from harm and intimidation. 'We know there will be many of our international colleagues within the committed and dedicated health and social care and independent sector workforce who will be distressed by what has unfolded. 'But please know this: You are welcome, you are deeply valued and you have our full support. We are the better for your presence here.' The statement, also signed by the chief nursing officer Maria McIlgorm, chief social worker Aine Morrison, chief pharmaceutical officer Cathy Harrison, chief scientific adviser Ian Young, chief allied health professions officer Michelle Tennyson and chief dental officer Caroline Lappin, also urged reaching out. 'At this time, it is important that each one of us reaches out to provide comfort and support to our friends and colleagues who have come here from outside of Northern Ireland,' they said. 'The hugely valuable contribution that our diverse internationally educated and recruited colleagues and friends make to our health and social care service is very well recognised. 'They go out to work each and every day, serving our communities with professionalism, dignity, kindness and compassion. 'We stand with them and condemn, in the strongest possible terms, these blatant acts of racist thuggery.'
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Barry Sanders reveals he suffered a heart attack last year
June 13 - Barry Sanders is imploring folks to undergo a complete medical checkup, nearly one year after the Hall of Fame running back suffered what he initially labeled as a heart-related health scare. During an exclusive interview with CBS Sports, Sanders disclosed that the "health scare" indeed was a heart attack. "Of all things, I don't know why, that just never entered my mind," Sanders said of his heart attack. "I'm learning through this process that there aren't necessarily any warning signs, unless you do what we're encouraging people to do, which is to go the doctor, get tested for LDLC levels, or bad cholesterol. That's the only way to find out if you have high cholesterol. It's not something you're going to be able to feel. You don't have to fit a certain physical profile." Sanders, 56, shared his experience in "The Making of a Heart Attack," which will air on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET on A&E. He said he woke up with a burning sensation in his chest while attending a recruiting visit for his son. "I couldn't believe it, honestly. I thought it was like heartburn, but it just kind of persisted," Sanders said. He said he drove himself to the emergency room later that afternoon, with tests revealing that his enzyme levels were "really high and getting higher." Sanders was a first-ballot selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004. The Lions made Sanders, a Heisman Trophy winner at Oklahoma State, the third overall pick of the 1989 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 10-year career with Detroit (1989-98), running for 15,269 yards -- now the fourth-most rushing yards in NFL history -- and 99 touchdowns while catching 352 passes for 2,921 yards and 10 TDs. Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards in 1997 when he shared Most Valuable Player honors with Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre. Sanders was selected to 10 Pro Bowls in 10 seasons, named first-team All-Pro six times, voted the Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1989 and selected to the NFL 100 All-Time Team. --Field Level Media
