Some interesting research in today’s media about dying.I’ve attached as well, as some results from a major study in the US on “Coping with cancer”.

1. “Doctors’ religion affects time of death”:Age, 27.8.10
http://www.theage.com.au/national/doctors-religion-affects-time-of-death-20100826-13udv.html?skin=text-only

*”Atheist doctors’ more likely to hasten death”:Guardian, 26.8.10
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2010/aug/26/doctors-religious-beliefs-terminally-ill

*”Doctors’ religious beliefs can color their care of the terminally ill”:Businessweek, 26.8.10 http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/642525.html

NB. # One of the interesting findings was that,the most religious doctors were significantly less likely than other doctors to have discussed options at the end of life with their patients”.(UK research).

NB. #”As has been observed in American research,….very religious doctors…were less likely to discuss options intended to help hasten the end of life for their patients and the overall decision-making processes regarding treatment”.

2. The “Coping with Cancer study”,(Yale etc) finds that,”relying upon religion to cope with terminal cancer may contribute to receiving aggressive medical care near death”. Check out some commentary on this finding:

*”Religious coping and aggressiveness of medical care at the end of life”.
http://www.pallimed.org/2009/03/religious-coping-and-aggressiveness-of.html

*”Religious patients more likely to get intensive life-prolonging care”.
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/03/18/cancer.God.religion/index.html

*”Aligning a medical treatment plan with God’s plan”. Los Angeles Times 18.3.09
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/mar/18/science/sci-faith18