Gabe Gao

The Dementia Feeding Tube Connection

Dementia is not a disease, but rather a collection of symptoms stemming from brain deterioration that occurs as people age. Alzheimer’s disease and small repetitive strokes known as vascular dementia are the most common illnesses leading to dementia.

By Gabe Gao

/ 31 Jan 2012

Often Futile Procedure Remains Common

Final Years, Troubling Choices: Third of a Three Part Series.

By Gabe Gao

/ 31 Jan 2012

A Closer Look at the Surgery to Place a Feeding Tube

A PEG tube—the acronym stands for percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy—is a silicone rubber feeding tube affixed to a patient’s belly through a simple surgical procedure. Intended for long-term feeding for patients who can’t or won’t eat, the tube carries liquid nutrition directly into the stomach.

By Gabe Gao

/ 30 Jan 2012

Best Feed Tube Decisions Require Tough Choices

Final Years, Troubling Choices: Second of a Three Part Series.

By Gabe Gao

/ 30 Jan 2012

Best Feed Tube Decisions Require Tough Choices

PEG Tubes Used Appropriately Can Be Lifesaving

While criticism of through-the-stomach feeding tubes has revolved around their use in frail elderly people, the device is widely accepted as crucial to medical care in a number of other circumstances.

By Gabe Gao

/ 30 Jan 2012

Choices Worksheet

By Gabe Gao

/ 30 Jan 2012

Stomach Tubes to Feed Elderly Often Unnecessary, May Be Harmful

Final Years, Troubling Choices: First of a Three Part Series.

By Gabe Gao

/ 29 Jan 2012

Stomach Tubes to Feed Elderly Often Unnecessary, May Be Harmful

Law Leaves Terminally Ill Children Little Choice on Where to Die

Terminally ill adults can make advance directives from their doctors forbidding medical interventions outside the hospital, but a little-known Iowa law does not allow the same power to similarly situated minors and their parents.

By Gabe Gao

/ 4 Jan 2011

Law Leaves Terminally Ill Children Little Choice on Where to Die

Utah Gives Dying Children a Choice

Two years ago the Utah legislature authorized use of do-not-resuscitate orders for terminally ill children after discharge from the hospital. The new directives operate on the same model as those for adults, with the additional requirement that two doctors sign for them instead of one. Despite that

By Gabe Gao

/ 4 Jan 2011

Iowa OK’s Fish Deemed Risky by Feds, Neighboring States

The state of Iowa is failing to warn people to cut back on eating locally caught fish contaminated with mercury and other pollutants at levels the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finds too risky, an IowaWatch study has found. More than 330,000 people a year buy licenses to fish Iowa’s waters, a

By Gabe Gao

/ 15 Dec 2010

The Dementia Feeding Tube Connection

Often Futile Procedure Remains Common

A Closer Look at the Surgery to Place a Feeding Tube

Best Feed Tube Decisions Require Tough Choices

PEG Tubes Used Appropriately Can Be Lifesaving

Choices Worksheet

Stomach Tubes to Feed Elderly Often Unnecessary, May Be Harmful

Law Leaves Terminally Ill Children Little Choice on Where to Die

Utah Gives Dying Children a Choice

Iowa OK’s Fish Deemed Risky by Feds, Neighboring States

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