icon caret-left icon caret-right instagram pinterest linkedin facebook twitter goodreads question-circle facebook circle twitter circle linkedin circle instagram circle goodreads circle pinterest circle

Recent Newspaper & Online Columns by Kate Scannell MD

Waiting on Armageddon and dying to escape death

By Dr. Kate Scannell, Syndicated columnist; First Published in Print: 03/15/2012

If you've been feeling somewhat anxious about our wobbly world, imagining hoof beats from the four horses of the Apocalypse every time a squirrel scampers across your roof -- you might derive some comfort in news events of the prior week.

For example, if you're reading this column on its publication date -- Sunday, March 18th -- you can rest assured that, despite what many doomsayers had predicted, the end of the world did not occur March 16th when the Large Hadron Collider CMS detector was switched on "somewhere" near the French-Swiss border.

You also might let out a sigh of relief that fiery solar storms did not incinerate the Earth to a crispy nubbin last week -- contrary to several grim prophesies.

Finally, solace may come from knowing that preacher Harold Camping announced last week that he would cease making predictions about the world's end. After spending millions of dollars informing and preparing followers for the Rapture on two separate but failed occasions in 2011, he humbly conceded that he'd been wrong to even try. He furthermore declared that "we have no new evidence pointing to another date for the end of the world."

Yes, last week was a white-knuckled, roller-coaster ride for Apocalypse spotters. Read More 

How the new health care law may affect the unliving

By Dr. Kate Scannell, Syndicated columnist
First Published in Print: 01/09/2011

LAST WEEK, the Obama administration removed a provision from the new health care law that would have encouraged opportunities for patients to consult with doctors about life and death concerns. Under the provision, Medicare would have reimbursed physicians for time spent with patients who wanted to discuss end-of-life treatment and voluntary advance care planning during their annual wellness visits.

Thank goodness -- and Sarah Palin -- that the Obama administration had the timidity to withdraw such a ridiculous provision. Really, why would any mortal being ever want to talk about ... being mortal? Why would anyone ever want to document their own preferences to guide their future medical care when they became unable to speak for themselves?

Besides, whoever heard of a dead person complaining about the insurers and medical personnel who took charge of their health care during their final hours or months within an ICU?

Clearly, it is better to allow our dying process to arrive as one big surprise party for all concerned. Read More