Case Histories

Personal health stories recently in the news

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Most recent case histories...

Stillbirth

'Our baby didn't cry. We did it for him' (The Scotsman 22/11/2009)

Nothing could have prepared Phil Johnson and his wife for the heartbreak of losing their first child, Finlay, who was stillborn, but they soon discovered that hundreds of other couples shared their pain It is easy for those who have not experienced the death of a baby to underestimate how distressing it can be. IT WOULD have been my son's first birthday last week. Looming larger than any other on my calendar, it was a date I dreaded all year.

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (copd)

Prolonging life (BBC 21/11/2009)

When Lynda Mitchell dies, she intends to have a humanist funeral - she has the whole ceremony planned. But although she is ready for her death, she would not want anyone to think she is simply waiting for it to happen. "I know I am dying but I don't want to die - you have got to keep fighting it every day," said Lynda. Five years ago doctors delivered the news that she had terminal chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and had just months to live.

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Sleepwalking

Analysis: Disorders can range from embarrassing to dangerous (The Scotsman 21/11/2009)

FOR most people, sleepwalking is a minor annoyance, affecting roughly 2% of adults. But for some, the effects can range from the embarrassing to the outright dangerous. There are several cases where flight attendants - deprived of normal sleep patterns - have found themselves naked on the roof of stop-over hotels. Research by Travel Lodge also found that 95% of those sleepwalking in their hotels were men and the chain even provides towels to cover the modesty of nude sleepwalkers.

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Automatism

Automatism (BBC 20/11/2009)

Automatism is essentially a legal defence, arguing that a person cannot be held responsible for their actions because they had no conscious knowledge of them. There are two types of the condition: insane automatism and non-insane automatism. In legal terms, insane automatism is caused by a "disease of the mind", while non-insane automatism is linked to external factors, such as a blow on the head or an injection of a drug. However, the distinction is primarily a legal one.

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Stillbirth

Lost twin (BBC 18/11/2009)

A charity has called for better care and more research funding to reduce stillbirths and perinatal death. It follows a report claiming almost 500 babies a year are lost that way in Scotland every year. Lesley Ingram, from Dumfries, lost one of her twins almost three years ago after being admitted to hospital due to complications. She told BBC Scotland how her experience showed that more needs to be done to tackle the issue.

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Brain Tumour

Ceramic implant inserted in skull (BBC 18/11/2009)

A police officer is thought to be the first person in the UK to have part of her skull replaced with a ceramic implant. Pc Linda Butt, 45, underwent surgery after she was diagnosed with five brain tumours and surgeons had to cut away part of her skull to get to them. The £5,000 ceramic plate will in time knit together with the remaining bone. The operation was carried out by consultant neurosurgeon Tony Belli at Southampton General Hospital.

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