Can life be evaluated? The Jewish Halachic approach vs. the quality of life approach in medical ethics: a critical view.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of requests for "mercy killings" by patients and their relatives. Under certain conditions, the patient may prefer death to a life devoid of quality. In contrast to those who uphold this "quality of life" approach, those who hold the "sanctity of life" approach claim that life has intrinsic value and must be preserved regardless of its quality. This essay describes these two approaches, examines their flaws, and offers a "golden path" between the two extreme positions. We discuss the halachic and the secular views, arguing for a balance between the sanctity of life and the quality of life. We argue that, indeed, such a balance exists in practice, and that life is important, but it is not sacred. Life can be evaluated, but quality of life is not the sole criterion.

The physiological state of captive and migrating Great White Pelicans (Pelecanus onocrotalus) revealed by their blood chemistry.

The Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus is an endangered migratory bird, threatened by diminishing natural feeding sites and by persecution by fishermen. The majority of the migrating White Pelican (71000) stop-over in Israel during their autumn migration to Africa. As part of a larger study, aimed to assess the necessity of feeding during the stop-over in Israel, we examined the blood chemistry of captive and migrating White Pelicans. Blood was sampled from captive birds maintained on a fish diet, after food deprivation for 48 h and from wild birds brought from the field during migration. Food deprivation resulted in increased plasma levels of triglycerides and in lower levels of urea, potassium and calcium. In migrating birds, increased plasma levels of urea and CPK and lower levels of creatinine were revealed. In general, the coefficient of variation in the blood chemistry of migrating pelicans was higher than in the captive birds, that is to say, that these birds were in a variable physiological condition. The blood profile of migrating and wintering pelicans did not indicate a state of dehydration but did indicate energy deficiency. The less extreme changes in blood chemistry of the 48 h food-deprived compared to migrating pelicans suggest that the former did not reach a state of starvation. We conclude that for White Pelicans the stop-over in Israel is a must in order to rest and replenish their fuel reserves for completion of their autumn migration to Africa.

Absorption of nursing students: new immigrants in the general academic nursing programme in Israel.

Two years after upgrading its nursing programme to university level, Israel experienced a massive wave of immigration from the former Soviet Union. Previous studies have shown that Russian immigrants in general, and in nursing in particular, have several unique characteristics that need to be taken into consideration in planning curricula and absorption programmes. The aim of the present work was to update these data, focusing on the reasons new immigrants choose nursing as a career, their image of the profession and their satisfaction with it. The study population consisted of 302 students attending five major academic schools of nursing in Israel. Students were divided into two groups: new immigrants (less than 4 years in Israel) and long-time Israelis (more than 4 years in Israel). All completed a 30-item questionnaire of proven validity and reliability. Findings were analysed by length of time in Israel and year of study. Using a series of statistical tests, we found that compared with the long-time Israelis, the new immigrants came from a higher socio-economic/professional stratum (in their mother country), had a less 'technical' perception of nursing, and were attracted to the profession primarily for extrinsic reasons ('close to medicine', economics). Both groups showed highest satisfaction in the clinical domain; however, the difference was significant only in the long-time Israeli group, even though the new immigrants had rated this domain highest in importance. The new immigrants showed least satisfaction in the academic domain. These results could be explained by several factors: the financial and housing problems that accompany immigration; the higher proportion of married students in the new immigrant group; and especially language difficulties, which are multiplied in Israel, where mastery in both Hebrew and English is necessary. Of particular interest was the fact that many of the immigrant students had already begun or completed medical school in their old country but were forced to compromise their dreams on immigration. This affected both their image of nursing and their reasons for choosing it as a career. We believe these findings will help nurse educators identify areas in which they can help ease the absorption process for maximal benefit to both the students and the profession.

Aggression in painting - painting as a means of release of aggression.

Painting is a primordial expression. It is not as rigidly defined, edited and criticized as verbal expression. On the other hand, society is more tolerant of painting, and subjects otherwise taboo, like sex, are not rejected. Through painting, aggression can be expressed in different ways, by using piercing and sharp forms; colors that clash; color can be put on the canvas with anger, used as a material. Aggression can also be expressed in the content of the painting, like in a story with an aggression plot. When we encourage individuals to channel their aggression in socially tolerated ways, we teach the aggressive person to release his aggression without jeopardizing his place in society and help him to accept socially approved values and attitudes. We can define this achievement as a step towards the social rehabilitation of the aggressive individuals. The paintings, 16 in all, of 8 mental patients are analyzed.