Community Briefs

Tuesday, February 3, 1998

Community Briefs

BRIEFS

Suicide rate for AIDS patients is 12 percent

Researchers at UC San Francisco have just released a new study
which looks at trends in assisted deaths of terminally ill AIDS
patients.

This study documents for the first time the frequency with which
terminally ill AIDS patients choose to hasten death through
increased amounts of medication.

The study, which looked at 140 men who died of AIDS, found that
approximately 12 percent of the group decided with their caretakers
to increase doses of medication in order to hasten death.

In these cases, the decision was made between the patient and
the caretaker and did not involve any direct action by the
physician.

"We found that hastened death occurred as an exceptional act in
the context of a caring, committed personal relationship between
the patient and his caregiver," said Molly Cooke, MD, UCSF
professor of clinical medicine and principal author of the
study.

"There was input into the decision making from the patient’s
physician, but it was not a medical act."

Patients lacking AIDS drug information

While drug availability is important to the health of patients
with HIV, complete information about possible options is just as
essential, a study by the UCSF Center for AIDS Prevention Studies
(CAPS) shows.

The study was designed to examine the barriers and motivators to
the use of combination therapies in patients with HIV. The study
shows that without complete information provided by doctors, many
patients are reluctant to take advantage of multi-drug combinations
of Anti-HIV therapies. This despite clinical trials which prove
their effectiveness in helping patients with HIV live longer and
higher quality lives.

Most patients not on therapy indicated that they would be
motivated to do so if they experienced a decline in their health
status, if they heard about improvements in other patients, if they
obtained research about the drugs, and/or if they came to believe
that the therapy would prolong their lives.

"People are hungry for information about these drugs," said Tom
Coats, UCSF professor of medicine and epidemiology.

Cedars-Sinai begins diabetes groups

The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center Comprehensive Diabetes
Outpatient Program will begin two diabetes support groups.

The groups will meet in order to offer diabetes patients a place
to learn to live with the disease, share their feelings, meet
others with diabetes, and get information from their peers.

The first support group, Type 1 will begin on Tuesday from 6:30
to 8:00 p.m. in room E124 at the Thalians Building at 8730 Alden
Drive.

The second group will meet on Feb. 9 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. in
room E240 at the same address.

For registration and more information call (310) 855-3870.
Please register in advance. The charge is $5 per person.

Chancellor receives honorary degree

Chancellor Albert Carnesale received his fourth honorary degree
over break, from North Carolina State University.

Chancellor Carnesale earned an honorary doctorate in letters
from NCSU, where he taught from 1962-69 and 1972-74. Carnesale had
earned his doctorate at the university in nuclear engineering in
1966.

Carnesale has also received honorary degrees from Harvard
University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Drexel
University.

Compiled from Daily Bruin staff reports.