Abortion medical doctors can consult girls on cellphone or by means of Skype: advice

It could indicate that the consultation was performed through a webcam, it explained.

The advice said: “Though there is no legal necessity for at least 1 of the certifying medical professionals to have noticed the pregnant lady ahead of reaching a choice about a termination, the Department’s view is that it is very good practice for this to be the situation. It is recognised even so that, with technological advances, this could nicely suggest that a doctor does not physically see the girl, e.g. there could be a discussion by mobile phone or more than a webcam.”

Josephine Quintavalle of the campaign group, Comment on Reproductive Ethics, explained: “A telephone consultation to guarantee authorisation – presumably with a professional-decision doctor – totally ignores the existence-taking nature of abortion, can make a full mockery of the authentic Act and would absolutely not be tolerated in any other branch of medicine.”

Also medical doctors ought to not pre-signal kinds approving terminations, the advice mentioned.

It said: “The clear intention of the Act is for every physician to consider the woman’s situations in forming a excellent faith viewpoint. This is reflected in the recognition that the medical professionals could discover that diverse grounds are met (though they should the two locate the same ground is met for the abortion to be lawful).

“Treating certification by one particular or both physician as a ‘rubber stamp’ exercise is for that reason contrary to the spirit of the Act and calls into question regardless of whether that medical doctor is in reality delivering an viewpoint that they have formed themselves in very good faith rather than relying solely on a colleague’s viewpoint, however trusted that colleague’s judgment may be.

“DH considers the signing of kinds with out consideration of any info relating to the girl to be incompatible with the requirements of the Abortion Act.”

Ann Furedi, chief executive of the British Pregnancy Advisory Services which carries out the majority of abortions in Britain, stated: “This advice endorses our practice at bpas.

“One in 3 ladies will require an abortion since their contraception fails, their lifestyle circumstances abruptly alter, or a problem is identified with a considerably needed pregnancy.

“Not too long ago, doctors providing abortion services have felt under intense political scrutiny, and this document need to give them the reassurance that neither the law nor regulations have altered to accommodate those who think their operate is wrong.

“The law impedes best practice.

“There is no clinical want for two doctors to certify a woman’s causes for abortion, in addition to acquiring her consent, it merely leads to delays. Bpas trusts girls to make accountable options and Bpas physicians comply with the law.”

Public Health Minister Jane Ellison explained: “This brings clarity to abortion care. During its improvement we’ve worked closely with healthcare skilled bodies and consulted the Crown Prosecution Services to give clear advice to clinicians about their roles and responsibilities below the law so that they can continue to offer the very best feasible care for females.”

Abortion medical doctors can consult girls on cellphone or by means of Skype: advice

Intensive mobile cellphone customers at greater risk of brain cancers, says study

A mobile mobile phone consumer. The new study located that cancer occurred on the opposite side of the brain – rather than on the exact same side – of in which the phone was customarily utilised. Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA

Individuals who use mobile phones intensively seem to have a larger chance of creating specific sorts of brain cancer, French scientists have said, reviving concerns about mobile phone safety.

Men and women who utilized their mobiles for much more than 15 hours every month over 5 years on common had among two and three times higher chance of establishing glioma and meningioma tumours compared with people who seldom used their phones, they located.

The review, appearing in the latest situation of British journal Occupational and Environmental Medication, is the most current in a lengthy-working exploration of mobile-phone security.

More than the previous 15 many years most investigations have failed to flip up conclusive final results either way, although a number of have suggested a hyperlink in between gliomas and intensive, prolonged-term use.

“Our examine is portion of that trend, but the benefits have to be confirmed,” said Isabelle Baldi, of the University of Bordeaux in south-western France, who took part in the examine.

In 2011 the International Company for Research on Cancer (IARC) mentioned radiofrequency fields utilized by mobile phones had been perhaps carcinogenic.

Even so, researchers have faced several difficulties, which includes acquiring an correct picture of phone use in genuine existence, filtering out life style variables this kind of as smoking which amplify cancer chance and taking into account shifting mobile phone technologies.

The new examine looked at 253 circumstances of glioma and 194 situations of meningioma reported in four French departments in between 2004 and 2006.

These patients have been matched towards 892 “controls” or wholesome individuals drawn from the standard population, in a bid to spot any variations amongst the two groups.

The comparison found a increased risk amid individuals who utilised their telephone intensively, particularly among people who used it for their operate, this kind of as in product sales. The duration of use in this group ranged from amongst two and ten many years, averaging at 5 years.

But the study also discovered a number of inconsistencies with other investigations that have recommended a website link in between hefty telephone use and brain cancer.

For instance, in contrast with prior perform, it found that cancer occurred on the opposite side of the brain – rather than on the very same side – of in which the cellphone was customarily utilised.

“It is hard to define a degree of danger, if any, specially as mobile cellphone technology is continually evolving,” the study acknowledged.

“The quick evolution of technology has led to a considerable enhance in the use of mobile phones and a parallel lessen of [radiowave intensity] emitted by the phones.

“Scientific studies taking account of these latest developments and allowing the observation of prospective prolonged-term results will be required.”

Intensive mobile cellphone customers at greater risk of brain cancers, says study

Pet topics: why does my puppy dislike our new cellphone?

Matted fur on the lower back is common in older cats, and can happen for a number of reasons, including lack of flexibility due to arthritis, dental disease preventing thorough self-grooming, and general geriatric lethargy. Ideally, early intervention can solve this, by gently teasing out the clumped fur before it accumulates. If you leave the clumps, they will get bigger, forming uncomfortable pads of matted fur. The best answer is to ask your vet to remove the clumped areas with electric clippers; during the same visit, you can ask about any related issues that your cat may need help with, such as dental disease, arthritis, and other hidden geriatric problems that can often be simply treated.

My 10-year-old cat Monty has always refused to sleep on my bed. He sleeps everywhere else: on the spare bed, under my bed and in any other cosy spot, but whenever I put him on my bed, he jumps straight off. I have tried various colours of bedding and I call him over when I am in bed to give him attention. Is there anything else I can do? I’d love the company of Monty sleeping by my feet.

EC, Skelmersdale

Monty may have once suffered some adverse event associated with sleeping on a bed with a person in it: perhaps his own rest was disturbed by someone’s feet wriggling? You need to do more to encourage him to enjoy sleeping there in the daytime, when there’s no one else there. Make your bed as appealing as possible, using thick, soft cat bedding. Set up an electric cat bed heater (available in most pet shops), spray cat pheromones on the covers (Feliway, available from vets or online, is good), and scatter some tasty treats on the bedspread to entice him (thrivepetfoods.com). If he discovers that your bed is the cosiest place in the house to snooze in the daytime, there’s a good chance that he’ll get into the habit of sleeping there at night too.

My garden has a wild patch that always sprouts nettles in springtime. In the past, I’ve kept my rabbits away from this area, but someone told me that they enjoy eating them. Is this true? Surely they could be hurt by getting stung?

LR, Salisbury

The Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund website (rabbitwelfare.co.uk) has an advice sheet detailing the safe plants that can be fed to rabbits, and you’ll be glad to hear that nettles are included. Rabbits seem to be resistant to nettle stings, and I’ve heard of rabbits happily munching their way through nettle crops that would leave humans covered in painful stings. If you still worry that your rabbit may be sensitive, you could cut the nettles then allow them to dry for a day or so (or more rapidly by putting them in the oven). This removes some of the stinging effect for humans, so it’s likely to make them even more appetising to rabbits.

Time for action on fat cats (and dogs)

Nearly 80 per cent of vets believe pet obesity is on the rise since 2009, with serious adverse consequences for dog, cat and rabbit health and welfare. If pets are kept at their ideal body size, their lifespan can be extended by up to two years. A recent survey showed that nearly one in three (30 per cent) owners relied only on instinct when deciding pet food portion size rather than giving a measured ration of food. For tips on how to keep your pet at the ideal weight, visit pfma.org.uk/weighinwednesday.

Rescue pet of the week

James is an adult tabby cat with a lovely personality. Contact Celia Hammond Animal Trust on 020 7474 8811 or visit celiahammond.org to find out more about him. To find out the outcomes of the rescued pets that are featured in this column, see Pet Subjects Rescue.

*Send pet problems to pete.wedderburn@telegraph.co.uk. All sick animals should, of course, be taken to a vet

Pet topics: why does my puppy dislike our new cellphone?