Obama addressed the health exception to abortion

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (Illinois), in an interview last week with Christian magazine said that "mental anguish" should not be used as an excuse for "late term abortions, AP / Google.com reports.

In an interview, Obama said: "Well, I do not believe that" mental anguish "qualifies as a mother of health. I think it is still a serious problem that is a natural during pregnancy, when there are real important questions for parents on child complete. " Last year, after the United States - The Supreme Court confirmed the decision that the ban on federal (PL 108-105) in the so-called "partial birth" abortion, Obama said that "totally rejects" the decision because "radically different from previous precedents, the health of pregnant women. " According to AP / Google.com, the health exception is "vitally important" for abortion-rights supporters and is considered a "loophole" opponents of abortion. By limiting health exception "serious physical problems," Obama, among other supporters of abortion rights, AP / Google.com reports (Kuhnhenn, AP / Google.com, 7 / 4).

January Crawford Green Castle - correspondent for ABC News, includes the Supreme Court, and provides legal analysis on the blog, ABC News "legal" - Obama stated that the declaration of perspective ", in contrast to 35 years of Supreme Court rulings on this issue, which always requires That the ban on abortion contain exceptions to permit procedures for the protection of women "mental health", as well as their physical health. "She said that Obama is the support of that law said - and away from support of freedom of choice of law, rights, it is one of the sponsors ", provides a much broader definition of mental health, he explained that this week." Green Castle notes that the Dow concentration problems against Bolton, the leading Supreme Court case decided on the same day in Roe v. manager in 1973, said a doctor may decide to conduct an abortion on the basis of "all factors - physical, emotional, psychological, family and woman, age - in terms of well-being of patients. After Green Castle, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Antonin Scalia ", expressed the view that" mental health "exception was not necessary. "(Green Castle," legitimacy ", ABC News, 7 / 5).

The official position of NARAL Pro-Choice America, which was approved in May, Obama said that "except for medical psychiatric problems that may occur during pregnancy. Tyazhesti fetal anomalies, for example, can exact a huge emotional in the pregnant woman and her family." V recent statement in response to interview Obama, the group, said Obama views that are consistent with Roe v. Wade, and added that Obama "has serious statements against President Bush's Federal banning abortion, have no exceptions to protect women's health." Tommy Vietor, Obama press, said: "Obama argued that laws which restrict contain exceptions for abortions, should be health and life of the mother." (AP / Google.com, 7 / 4).

Obama on Saturday to clarify its position and said: "I said that you should have a health exception in many important restrictions or bans on abortion, abortion later date." He added: "My only point is that in an area such as partial birth abortion, mental [or] Health exception can be determined with precision. It can be defined by physical health [and] may be determined by clinical serious mental Diseases. "He said:" Now I do not believe that "mental anguish" qualifies as a mother of health ", adding:" I think it is still a serious problem that is a natural during pregnancy, when there are real problems for mother Child allowances. " Obama campaign representative Linda Douglas, said Senator makes a difference in an interview with the relevant medical diagnosis of mental illness and the nature of mental anguish that is not planned pregnancy can cause. "Fear is not a mental illness," said Douglas, adding: "zero Cree and always said there should be no exception for physical health and serious mental illness" (James, "swamp", Chicago Tribune, 7 / 5).

Green Castle writes that makes Obama so that the comments as "surprising" that the senator is trying to limit abortions after 22 weeks for those women who have serious illness or disease. But today, the law also covers some women are "mental anguish", these women may be affected emotionally and psychologically, without prejudice to abortion "(" legal ", ABC News, 7 / 5).

Rove attacks Obama stand against abortion

In related news, former Bush administration chief of staff Karl Rove on Friday during the speeches members of the National Council the right to life Obama attack from their positions on abortion, while praising Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain (Arizona) for their values , New York Times "In Conclave", reported. During his speech said that Rove Obama threatened "to strike all the good deed that has [NRTL] Done for decades" in the framework of its support for freedom of choice Law and other measures , An abortion rights.

Obama is a man who receives and said that brings Republicans and Democrats together to great things for the country ", Rove said, adding:" How can [Obama] argue that to do if he [is] at the same time support the separation of practice the use of U.S. taxpayer funding of abortion? You can not. You can not square circle ". Rove also noted that Obama has a zero rating NRTL and 100% rating from NARAL. Rove also attacked Obama recent efforts to court" for the lives of leaders and values "and try to" convince them that it is reasonable person ". Rove said:" I understand that you are trying to do ", adding:" But there is a difference between talk and act. "Obama" actions over many years are much more important than any words he could, in private conversation. "

In response to comments made by Rove, Vietor, said that "Obama is working for the presidency, the country together and end kind of political division perfection by Karl Rove" (Falcone, "The Conclave", "New York Times, 7 / 4 ).

Reprinted with permission type http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You see, all Report Daily Women's Health Policy, search archives, or subscribe for delivery by e-mail here. Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Association of Women and Family Affairs, published by the Advisory Board Company.

adapted from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

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Meditation is good for psychiatrists' mental health

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Meditation sessions proved to be a success for the members of the Royal College of Psychiatrists at its annual meeting at Imperial College, London - the growing number are on the argument that the spiritual discipline against anxiety and burnout.

Meditation workshops under the guidance of college spirituality 2000 - a strong group of special interests, are overbooked. "How to be a reference to the need for spiritual food, that the members of the College not so easily to the outside world," said Dr. Sarah Eagger, Chairman of the Group of spirituality.

Dr. Eagger, consultant psychiatrist at St. Charles Hospital, London, said that his daily practice of meditation is so important in their daily work, as their medical training. "The strength of spiritual practice really happening in his own when the patient is in distress himself, while dealing with pressure of work in groups with a huge burden, and then have to spend time filling forms that you think are not reliable. I have enough . Without the practice of meditation to cultivate the area was still inside, I want to suffer burnout. "

Dr Andrew Powell, founder Chairman of the Group of spirituality, said: "There is the degree of concern in the profession to be caught up in a culture of measurement and in the box score. The result is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to practice Psychiatry, anxiety and concern for our patients to maintain human values and not caught up in "us and them" mentality. "

Nevertheless, many psychiatrists struggle to understand the importance of spirituality to their work, the meeting was told. Julia Head, a specialist chaplains in the Maudsley Hospital in London, told the conference that spirituality is increasingly recognized as an important part of good mental health.

"National Institute of Mental Health in England, is only the latest body to recognize the limits of modern medicine with the recommendation that experts in the field of spiritual support and physical therapy, including drugs," said Dr. chief, coordinates "the exploitation of training programmes for mental health 300 Specialists in areas of London Southwark and Lambeth.

"Experts should encourage hope and desire for change and the possibility of recovery. Nevertheless, the idea of healing, in contrast to clinical treatment, is that alien to many experts," he said. "You feel trapped in a culture where measuring clinical activities is a priority. It is time to realize that in order to support their patients recover, they must feel the assessment and allow time for their own growth."

The meeting also said that the evidence for the therapeutic benefits of meditation for a wide range of health problems was significantly stronger than most drugs. The new meta-analysis of 823 randomized controlled trials of meditation in which the United States - the National Institute of alternative and complementary medicine, showed clinical benefits of meditation through a wide range of physical and emotional disorders.

"Meditation is a way of life, not a rapid solution achieved through the payment of eight sessions or to use tricks, such as smoking, music and light", Dr Avdesh Sharma, former president of Psychiatric Association of India, he said. "It does not work immediately. We need to practice for several weeks before the consequences will be felt gradually."

Dr. Sharma added: "If meditation is a drug that we all want to see it in action. He has a positive influence on most of the problems of physical health and very effective for mental health significantly reduce depression and improve Fear relaxation, oxygen to the brain, insomnia and energy. "

Reference:

The Annual Meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Imperial College, London, 1 - 4 July 2008

adapted from www.rcpsych.ac.uk

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The Connection between Exercise and Mental Health

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

We all know that exercise promotes healthier body and better sense of well-being. It boosts confidence for people who need newer self image while it prevents the aggravation of physical illnesses for some. While nearly all of the research on exercise is focused on demonstrating positive effects on the physical body, there is a growing mass of research that seeks to prove that exercise is good for mental health as well.

A study conducted by the researchers from the Duke University along with other similar studies proved that exercise could help treat depression for 60% of all the participants. This result is similar with the total number of participants who are using medications for their treatment from depression.

However, you dont have to be a sufferer of a mental illness before you benefit from exercise. You can boost your sense of well-being while walking on the treadmill or by combining yoga and meditation. In a way, exercise could be used as a potential medium for preventing the development of psychological and emotional conditions.

There are three dimensions at which we could look at when examining the benefits of exercise in the mental wellness of a person. Among the less well known is the biological aspect.

One theory suggests that physical workout or exercise could stimulate a part of the brain to release endorphins. Activities that are more likely to trigger the release of endorphins are swimming, cross-country skiing, running, bicycling, aerobics and sports like soccer, football and basketball.

Endorphins are comparable to opiates in a way that they resemble morphine. Endorphins could work in two ways- as a pain reliever (which is produced in response to the stresses brought about by physical work or stress) and as an enhancer of well-being. There are, however, no definite data that could support this claim.

On the other hand, exercise is also found to trigger the release of hormones norepinephrine, dopamine and serotonin. All these are known to help improve mood and is actually the main effect of Prozac, a known antidepressant.

Increase in these hormones could be best observed in a condition known as "runner's high". This feeling during after an acute exercise is directly linked to the increased number of the said hormones. However, there are still no conclusive studies proving that improvements on mood could be facilitated for a longer period of time.

Another is the physiological aspect. Nearly all of the feelings we associate with mental wellness come from our personal evaluation of the way our body feels. Say for instance, if you perceive a stomach pain as a form of stress then you will feel stressed (and sometimes even depression) every time your stomach aches. Likewise, exercise could render feelings such as muscle relaxation and easier breathing which we associate with "feeling better". While this correlation is yet to have a better scientific grounding, we still could not deny the fact that muscle tension and increased blood flow go together with physical fitness.

No one knows yet how exactly exercise affects mental health. But it is common among patients to view exercise as a good medium to elevate their moods. In fact, according to a survey conducted by the Charity Mind nearly two-thirds of all people who said that they use exercise to relieve symptoms of stress and depression believe that exercise actually works for them. The scientific community is yet to understand how this happens though and for now, it remains a truth that people benefit from exercise for mental health.

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