KOLKATA, India — Medical staff at an Indian hospital abandoned their patients and fled for safety early Friday as fire and smoke poured through the building, leaving 73 people dead, many from smoke inhalation, officials said. As rescuers scrambled to evacuate survivors, police filed a case against the hospital in the eastern city of Kolkata for violating safety procedures. Top government officials vowed to hold the hospital accountable for the tragedy, and began proceedings to cancel its license. Read full article > >

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Medical staff at Indian hospital abandons patients as fire rages, killing 73

All the patients had the same terrible diagnosis: brain damage that marooned them in a “vegetative state” — alive but without any sense of awareness of themselves or the world around them. But then an international team of scientists tried an ambitious experiment: By measuring electrical activity in the patients’ brains with a relatively simple technique, the researchers attempted to discern whether, in fact, they were conscious and able to communicate. Read full article > >

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Technique spots patients misdiagnosed as being in ‘vegetative state’

Physiotherapists may soon be able to prescribe medication for their patients without the need to have a doctor’s written agreement.

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Physios could write prescriptions

A new center is intended to teach medical students how to have a better relationships with their patients.

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University of Chicago Gets $42 Million Gift for Bucksbaum Institute

The trial of a Delaware pediatrician accused of molesting 103 of his patients was scheduled to begin Tuesday, according to a court official.

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Pediatrician on trial in sex abuse case

Many doctors recommend to their patients treatments that they would not pick for themselves, a study shows.

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Doctors defy own treatment advice

Some of the patients struck by swine flu in the winter could take 18 months to fully recover and need long term rehabilitation.

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Swine flu victims’ 18 month fight

The nation’s organ-transplant network is considering giving younger, healthier people preference over older, sicker patients for the best kidneys.

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Under kidney transplant proposal, younger patients would get the best organs

Four patients at Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderrry have receive a late diagnosis of cancer as a result of a huge backlog in dealing with X-rays.

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Staff levels hit cancer patients

Action is needed to help people who suffer long-term pain, the Patients Association says.

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Action urged on ‘pain suffering’

Nursing care must be strengthened because of continued poor care of older people in hospital, says the Patients Association.

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Hospitals ‘still lack basic care’

A surgeon and ex-head of the British Medical Association failed to involve himself in the post-operative care of four patients, a General Medical Council hearing has found.

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Ex BMA leader ‘failed patients’

MoMA breaks new art therapy ground with their Alzheimer’s project Since its inception four years ago, MoMA’s ” Meet Me ” program for dementia and Alzheimer’s patients has not only grown increasingly successful, but it has inspired museums around the U.S. to take part. The program provides an opportunity for the patients—most of whom were artists or frequenters of the museum previously—to view current exhibitions during off hours on a carefully guided tour. While art therapy isn’t a new concept, the program is unique in that it allows the patients to reconnect and discuss the work right before them, rather than attempting to recall memories. Aside from its obvious merits, the program also speaks to me personally. My mother is a docent at the Cleveland Museum of Art (where a pilot program for dementia patients is underway) and my grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s when I was young. As my grandfather struggled to recall the names of people and places, it would have been an amazing experience to visit his favorite work of art—the Franklin Institute ‘s iconic Giant Heart—with him and watch him interact. MoMA has created a website that acts as a resource for how to create a program for dementia patients. In addition to themselves and the CMA, the Minneapolis Institute of Art , the American Museum of Folk Art and the Bruce Museum of Arts and Science have all adopted programs, with schools such as NYU and corporations such as the MetLife Foundation joining the efforts by donating resources to anyone running similar projects as Meet Me. One partner organization is StoryCorps , which interviewed some of the patients that attended the MoMA program. Above are excerpts from an interview with an Alzheimer’s patient and designer of the popular Swingline Stapler, who had been exhibited at MoMA and was given the opportunity to go back. See more images in their photo essay .

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Meet Me