November

The following physicians have died over the past year; please consider submitting a piece for our “in memoriam” section to the BCMJ if you knew the deceased well.

The H1N1 flu virus has resulted in uncertainty among travelers regarding the extent of their travel insurance coverage if they are infected. We asked Johnson Inc., provider of the MEDOC travel insurance plan for BCMA members, to respond to this concern. The following are some questions and answers from Johnson Inc. regarding H1N1.

The population is aging and physicians are not immune to this trend. With diseases like cancer, Alz­heim­er’s, and ALS on the increase, critical illness insurance can be a beneficial addition to an insurance portfolio.

Critical illness insurance pays a one-time benefit to an insured person who suffers from, and survives, a covered illness or impairment listed in the insured’s policy. Critical illness differs from life and disability insurance in the following ways:

Here are some common fears of dying and how to help patients and their loved ones address them.

The process of dying
• Will death be painful?
• How will I get through this?
Make sure patients know they will experience little or no pain (unless they choose to). Staff members at hospice facilities are trained to interpret what patients need using verbal and nonverbal cues, and they will discuss the benefits and drawbacks of each option with patients and their families.

Dr Ravi Sidhu of the University of British Columbia was honored by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada with the Program Director of the Year Award for demonstrating a commitment to innovation in medical residency education.