Mother accuses mental health trust of signing her son's death warrant

The family of a fitness instructor killed by a man with paranoid schizophrenia yesterday accused medical staff of in effect signing his death warrant. Matthew Carter, 22, was so badly disfigured by Sean Perry during a random attack two years ago he had to be identified by his DNA.

An independent report published yesterday criticised the care Perry received from the South West London and St George's mental health trust, highlighting a string of failures by those who were supposed to be looking after him.

Speaking after the findings had been released, Carter's mother, Johanne Caton, said the care offered to her son's killer had been "indescribably bad". "I'll never see my son again," she said. "I'll never be grandmother to his children and they've taken all that away from me."

The report into the killing revealed that Perry, who admitted manslaughter at the Old Bailey in 2006 and was detained indefinitely in Broadmoor maximum security hospital, had assaulted a community psychiatric nurse a year before killing Carter but had not been prosecuted.

The authors were concerned that witness statements were only taken three months after the "particularly serious" attack on the nurse. The report added that the failure to bring charges could have been a missed opportunity to tackle Perry's problems as it might have "encouraged him to address his condition and engage with treatment".

The report said Perry was "known to be capable of great violence" and presented a significant risk to others when acutely psychotic. But he was not referred for a forensic assessment because the community care staff looking after him believed this would have been of limited value.

There was also an over-reliance by health workers on using Perry's mother to monitor his progress despite her being "not adequately equipped" for this role. Caton said: "She was going to do anything to prevent him being sectioned. She is his mother. She shouldn't be left to make that decision."

Perry was twice a patient at the trust's Springfield hospital in Tooting but was discharged in June 2005. His family repeatedly warned that he was refusing to take anti-psychotic drugs and urged doctors to monitor him more closely.

The report criticised the fact that Perry had no face-to-face contact with his carers in the 10 weeks leading up to the killing, which happened in February 2006. He was arrested just before the killing for a driving offence and the report said his behaviour then had made the need for further assessment "absolutely clear". Caton said the report was the first time she had been given a comprehensive picture of what happened before the murder. "The more and more I read it, the worse it seems."

Thomas Wright, another of the trust's patients, stabbed his wife 77 times with a kitchen knife at their home in Tooting the same weekend that Carter was killed. Wright's GP had urgently referred him to the trust's local community mental health team a fortnight earlier, but he was not seen. It was also responsible for John Barrett, who killed retired banker Denis Finnegan in Richmond Park in 2004.

Yesterday Peter Houghton, chief executive of the trust, expressed his sympathy to the bereaved families. He said that since the attacks, the trust's mental health early intervention service has trebled in size, risk assessment had improved and staff had been given more training. He said the "terrible events" were an opportunity to stop such events happening again.

True To Form, Boomers Start A Fitness Revolution

While Bogard's physical exploits are greater than the adventures of many his age, he has a lot of company among 43- to 61-year-old baby boomers -- the fastest-growing segment of the health-conscious crowd. Fitness experts say more boomers are realizing they need a regimen of cardio, strength, flexibility and balance training to enjoy a long, healthy retirement.

Some prefer exercising on their own or joining teams. Others prefer help available at gyms or clubs. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association reports the number of members over age 55 in its 4,000 clubs climbed from 7.3 million to 7.9 million from 2000 to 2005.

Boomer classes also are popping up at gyms: In Indianapolis, Family Health Insurance there is Boomer Tai Chi for Arthritis and Boomer Low Impact Aerobics at the National Institute for Fitness and Sport, and the dance-aerobic F.I.T. 50 class at the Westview Healthplex Sports Complex, Health Topics for example.

Family Health Insurance And if boomers think they can ease up on exercising as they age, the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association beg to differ. Recently revised recommendations from the two groups say that daily fitness levels for all healthy adults ages 18 to 64 look the same: moderately intense cardio exercise 30 minutes daily five days a week, or vigorously intense cardio 20 minutes a day three days a week, plus eight to 10 strength-training exercises, 10-15 repetitions each, two to three times a week, as well as balance exercises.

Weight Watchers Vs. Fitness Centers

In the first study of its kind, using sophisticated methods to measure body composition, the nationally known commercial weight loss program, Weight Watchers, was compared to gym membership programs to find out which method wins in the game of good health. A University of Missouri researcher examined the real-life experiences of participants to determine which program helps people lose pounds, reduce body fat and gain health benefits. The answer is that both have pros and cons and that a combination of the two produces the best results.

Health Insurance In addition, Ball said the study was novel because Computer Tomography (CT scans) were used to investigate changes in abdominal fat, which is more predictive of cardiovascular disease. Although the fitness center group lost very little weight, they probably improved their health because they lost a significant amount of intraabdominal fat (fat around vital organs). These results imply that exercise may have positive influence on the metabolic syndrome despite the number on the scale, Ball concluded.

“This study attempted to discover what takes place in the real world when overweight women attempt to lose weight.” Ball said. “I think the outcome of the study speaks volumes about the necessity for a multi-pronged approach in order to lose weight, body fat and gain health benefits. I hope that this will be the first in a series of studies investigating commercial weight-loss programs.”

Sex-Ed Clinic Headed To Hopkins High School

As the parameters of sex education in schools are debated statewide, one suburban high school is making plans to begin an on-campus teen clinic that will offer pregnancy and STD screening and other services this fall.

Hopkins School District staff presented plans for a satellite office of the West Suburban Teen Clinic at Hopkins High to school board members during a recent meeting.

The Minneapolis and St. Paul school districts operate health clinics at several of their high schools, but experts say few suburban districts offer on-site reproductive health care.

"West Suburban [Teen Clinic] has been around a long time, and they're a good organization," said Brigid Riley, executive director of the Minnesota Organization on Adolescent Pregnancy, Prevention and Planning. Riley said Minnesota was one of the first places in the country to have school-based clinics.

In Minnesota, minors have access to reproductive health care such as birth control or testing for sexually transmitted disease without parental consent. Even so, staff members assured Hopkins school board members that parents would be allowed to withhold consent for students to be seen at the clinic.

"We don't want to do anything that will harm the relationship between parents and schools or schools and students," said Terry Bosacker, executive director of the West Suburban Teen Clinic, which has an office in Excelsior.

Health Insurance Falling Short For More People

People without health insurance risk potential financial disaster if they should need expensive medical care, but a growing number of underinsured Americans also find themselves on shaky financial ground.

Despite the U.S. economy's growth in the last five years, the number of people with health insurance who face high out-of-pocket medical expenses relative to their incomes has risen sharply since 2003, according to a new study.

More than 25 million working-age Americans were underinsured last year, up 60% from the 16 million who had inadequate coverage in 2003, according to a report from the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation in New York. The rate of underinsurance nearly tripled among middle- and higher-income families, those with at least $40,000 in family income.

"Lack of insurance is only one part of the problem, as even the insured have serious gaps in coverage," said Karen Davis, president of the Commonwealth Fund. "Insurance coverage is the ticket into the health-care system, but for too many, that ticket doesn't buy financial security or genuine access to care."

The upward trend in the underinsured rate reflects how much rising health-care costs have outpaced wage gains. Premiums for family coverage have jumped 78% since 2001, while wages have risen 19% and general inflation has gone up 17% in that time, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Researchers considered people who had coverage all year long underinsured if they had out-of-pocket medical, prescription, dental and vision expenses that amounted to 10% or more of their total household income, or 5% if they were low income. People who had deductibles equal to or greater than 5% of their income also qualified as underinsured because of their potential financial exposure.

During 2007, 42% of adults, or 75 million people, were either uninsured or underinsured, up from one-third in 2003, according to the study of 2,616 people ages 19 to 64. It was published online Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs.

Employers burdened by rapidly rising health-care costs have been shifting more of those costs to workers or limiting benefits, the study found. The underinsured were more likely to have individual or small-group coverage, and those with employer-based health insurance were more likely to work in low-wage jobs or at small firms than their adequately insured counterparts. What's more, the underinsured were more likely to report paying high deductibles and many paid high annual premiums.

The underinsured often resembled the uninsured more so than the insured in their health-care choices and experiences. More than half of the underinsured -- 53% -- and 68% of the uninsured avoided needed care because of cost, compared with 31% of the adequately insured who went without, the study found. That includes not seeing a doctor when sick, not filling prescriptions and not getting recommended diagnostic tests or treatments.

About 45% of the underinsured reported difficulty paying medical bills, being contacted by collection agencies or changing their way of life to keep up on health-care payments, just shy of the 51% of uninsured who said the same.

In the U.S., even people with health insurance can rack up medical debt or face bankruptcy, said Cathy Schoen, senior vice president of the Commonwealth Fund. "As a nation we are losing ground. We need to move in new directions."

Leon Rousso, a certified financial planner in Ventura, Calif., who sells health insurance as part of his business, said he tries to place moderate-income people in health plans that have a sensible annual out-of-pocket maximum and reasonable coverage for their biggest potential out-of-pocket costs. Sometimes that means moving them to a higher deductible plan in exchange for lower premiums.

Health Insurance Is Only For Healthy

You state, "Ostensibly, rescission is intended to protect insurers from people who lie about their health to get coverage. By guarding against fraud, the logic goes, insurance companies can keep costs down for people who don't cheat. That's fair enough."

Not really.

Pre-existing conditions preclude most insurance coverage. Insurance companies are dropping coverage when they learn someone is sick and they will not offer coverage if they know someone is sick. Insurance companies are in the premium-collection business, not the claims-payment business, and certainly not in the business of health care for sick people - it's bad for the bottom line.

The best way to keep health-care costs down is to eliminate the middleman, i.e., the insurance companies that pay bonuses to cancel policies.

At some point we must realize that compassion and common decency compels us to provide care to anyone who is suffering sickness or injury. Health insurance is only for the healthy.

Join Nurses In Protest Against Profit-Hungry Insurance Industry

Members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee (CNA/NNOC) are fighting back against insurance companies that care more about profits than people.

CNA/NNOC members, nurses, doctors, patients and Americans of every stripe will join in a national day of protest against insurance companies June 19. In more than 15 cities from Baltimore to Pittsburgh to San Antonio, workers will call for a quality, affordable health care system for all.

The largest protest is expected in San Francisco, where thousands will rally outside the annual convention of America’s Health Insurance Plans—the insurance industry lobbyists. To find out more or to join a protest in your area, click here.

We have noted many times that the nation’s health care system is in crisis. Not only are nearly 50 million people without health insurance, but a recent study shows some 25 million people who have insurance are finding it harder and harder to pay for it or are going without needed medical treatment because of the costs.

Saving Money On Organic Food

As food prices continue to soar, consumers might find it tough to swallow premium prices for organic products. But you can save money if you're smart about buying organics.

Organic means the food is produced without pesticides, chemical fertilizers or antibiotics and generally emphasizes using renewable resources and conserving soil and water. Consumers frequently buy organic food for environmental reasons and because they consider it to be more healthful.

Organic produce typically costs 25 percent to 100 percent more than nonorganic. That premium price becomes more difficult to manage when all food prices are rising so fast. Prices for organic food have been increasing along with those of conventional foods. Here are do's and don'ts when trying to save.

hat term on packaging has a lot less meaning than "organic," a term highly regulated by the Department of Agriculture. When price is an issue, don't pay extra for something called "natural" or "all natural."

Do pay for some fruits and vegetables. It's worth paying more for organic versions of some fruits and vegetables that retain pesticide residue even after you wash them. Pay for organic versions of peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes, according to the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organic research group.

Don't pay more for fruits and vegetables with thicker skins that have far less pesticide residue. The group said you can skip the organic onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli and papaya.

Do buy organic protein-rich foods. Meats, poultry, eggs and dairy products are worth buying as organics because they are free of pesticides, synthetic growth hormones and antibiotics.

Don't buy highly processed organics. Breads, oils, potato chips, pasta, cereals and other packaged foods, such as canned or dried fruit and vegetables, are probably not worth buying as organics unless price is no object, Consumer Reports said. Much of the health benefit of being organically produced has been processed out.

Do buy organic baby food. Baby food tends to be made from condensed fruits and vegetables, some of which might contain pesticides. Or make your own baby food from organic whole fruits and vegetables.

Do buy local. You can find organic food from local farmers markets and local producers. "The nice thing about it is it's not only fresher, but it's cheaper," said Ronnie Cummins, national director of the Organic Consumers Association.

Do try store brands. More supermarkets and large discounters such as Wal-Mart, are offering private-label organics, which are cheaper than name brands.

Do use coupons. Look for coupons for organic products in the Sunday newspaper or go online to the free coupon database at CouponMom.com and enter the search term "organic." Get coupons directly from organic producers' Web sites and sign up for their e-mail newsletters, which contain coupons, suggests Stephanie Nelson, who operates the CouponMom Web site. Examples are Organic Valley.com, SCOjuice.com, ColemanNatural.com, and Stonyfield.com. The site Healthesavers.com has printable coupons for some organic products.

Do cook at home with whole foods. Dining out less could easily make up the price difference between buying organics and nonorganics. And cooking with bulk, whole organic ingredients is cheaper than buying prepared organics.

"Cooking with whole-food ingredients is quite a bit cheaper than processed foods," Cummins said. "It takes more time, but it tastes better."

Nelson compared prices for organic bay leaves as a spice, which cost $3.49 at the supermarket but just 14 cents for the same amount from a local natural market Health Food.

Do grow your own. If you are the gardening type and have a backyard, grow your own vegetables to save some money and receive the side benefits of exercise and a regular hobby.

Webeat Shines Amid The Showers

seems that the rainy season and WeBeat 2008 came at the same time, as opening night of the festival of arts and culture at the St James Amphitheatre was interrupted by rain more than once. Guests and patrons, however, held their ground, as did the artistes who still managed to deliver top-notch performances. Even the sound system, which was affected by the downpour, held out, allowing the show to move along in spite of the wet conditions.

WeBeat is produced by the Community Improvement Committee of St James and features a week-long series of activities, most of them at the amphitheatre.

Friday featured an evening of activities for children, including a puppet show, clowns, face painting and performances. This was followed by the preliminary round of the 5 Ah Side Steelpan competition. There was a cultural show at Harvard Sports Club on Saturday.

Friday's opening featured performances by calypsonians, Ninja, Luta and Trinidad Rio. Also performing were Soca Elvis, the Nirvana Dance Group and Chutney Band Karma among others.

The focus will be on health today when the WeBeat Health Day gets going from 10 a.m. at the St James Service Centre, where there will be free medical tests as well as demonstrations and performances.

Wal Mart Doing Well By Doing Good

Wal-Mart used the occasion of its annual shareholder meeting Friday to crow about the achievements of the past year, which are considerable: sales, earnings and free cash flow have all been on the rise - at a time when most retailers are struggling.

The mood of the upbeat gathering at the University of Arkansas' Bud Walton Arena - part rock concert (Joss Stone and Tim McGraw were among the performers), part pep rally - contrasted with the darker days of H. Lee Scott's early years as chief executive, when Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) was battered by critics who accused the giant retailer of everything from gender discrimination to providing sub-par health care for its employees.

Over the past three years, Wal-Mart has set out to repair its image. It has improved employee benefits and used its great might to shrink prices even further - a strategy that is winning over cash-strapped customers.

A recent study by Goldman Sachs showed Wal-Mart to be the clear price leader on a variety of products, from health and beauty aids to food and household cleaners.

In the past year, the $374.5 billion in sales retailer has gone well beyond those parameters to address concerns of society as a whole, including environmentalism, where it is on a mission to reduce the carbon footprint of its stores, and the rising cost of health care with its $4 prescription drug plan.

"They want to know about our leadership on sustainability and health care," he said. "Leaders who want to get things done will see Wal-Mart as a partner."