Montana 3rd state to allow doctor-assisted suicide (AP)

AP – The Montana Supreme Court said Thursday that nothing in state law prevents patients from seeking physician-assisted suicide, making Montana the third state that will allow the procedure.

Best of the Web

Mystery of Tasmanian Devil Cancer Solved (LiveScience.com)

LiveScience.com – All it takes is a bite for a Tasmanian devil to pass a lethal cancer on to its kin. Now scientists have figured out the origin of the transmissible facial tumor disease that’s wiping the creatures out: nerve cells.

Clinical Trials Update: Dec. 31, 2009 (HealthDay)

HealthDay – (HealthDayNews) — Here are the latest clinical trials, courtesy
of ClinicalConnection.com:

Her Music Eases the End for Dying Patients (HealthDay)

HealthDay – THURSDAY, Dec. 31 (HealthDay News) — Music therapy is used to
help Alzheimer’s patients remember and autistic children calm down. Now, a
University of Alabama student is using her voice and guitar to comfort
dying patients in hospice.

Volunteering May Keep Elderly Stronger (HealthDay)

HealthDay – THURSDAY, Dec. 31 (HealthDay News) — Volunteering one’s time and
energy might help stave off frailty among the elderly.

Laser Deemed Best Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy (HealthDay)

HealthDay – THURSDAY, Dec. 31 (HealthDay News) — Steroid injections into the
eye slowed diabetes-related eye disease, though lasers remain the
treatment of choice because of side effects related to the steroids, new
research shows.

Clues to Cancer That Could Wipe Out Tasmanian Devils (HealthDay)

HealthDay – THURSDAY, Dec. 31 (HealthDay News) — Researchers are gaining a
better understanding of an outbreak of cancerous tumors that is killing
many of Australia’s Tasmanian devils, according to a new report.

Did Americans get any healthier over past decade? (AP)

AP – About 10 years ago the government set some lofty health goals for the nation to reach by 2010.

Smoking, drinking up risks of gut, throat cancers (Reuters)

Reuters – A new study confirms that smoking raises a person’s risks of the major forms of esophageal and stomach cancers, while drinking has more narrow effects.

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