BABY FOOD ALERT MAY AFFECT ROSWELL AREA

A recent and highly publicized report has been released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) in Washington, D.C. concerning the high risks associated with certain fruits and vegetables which have been exposed to a dangerous category of pesticides known as organophosphates. The report provides disturbing details concerning the toxic nature of one in four peaches or one in eight apples, for example, when consumed by pregnant women and young children under the age of five years. Because baby food contains these toxic fruits, irreversible brain and nerve damage is occurring to millions of children each week in this country. This constitutes a major community health problem which is deserving of high level attention.

Parents in the Roswell area are instructed to avoid major brands of baby food until such time as the FDA issues new guidelines for purchase of baby food products. Manufacuturers are expected to be complying with new regulations in the very near future.

The Director of Casa de Oro Nursing Home, located in Las Cruces, has routinely interfaced with Memorial Medical Center in that city, and with local HMOs, to provide counseling and advice to families confronting the serious decision of whether or not to sustain the life of a loved one. Virtually daily, the interaction of these health professionals with families occurs at Casa de Oro and other area nursing homes. Elderly patients, in pain and misery, are evaluated; progress notes on their conditions are kept, and, when medical records indicate a downward trend, a decision to withhold life-support, entailing in a sense the actual 'committing' of euthanasia, is made, jointly and solemnly.

Occasionally, when the patient is unconscious or judged incompetent, the decision at nursing homes is made by the spouse, often against the wishes of siblings, offspring or medical practioners. In these cases, the spouse's wishes are usually honored, unless there are compelling medical reasons to believe that the patient is likely to improve.

ROSWELL WOMEN'S OSTEOPOROSIS SOCIETY MEETING SCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3rd, AT 3PM

The monthly meeting of the R.W.O.S. will be held at Saint Genevieve's Catholic Church Basement, as usual, at 3PM on Sunday, October 3rd. Mrs. Diane Fossey has requested that all members be present in order to enjoy a talk given by Dr. Gray, osteopathic surgeon, on the dangers of "Dowager's Hump" in our Golden Years. Members are asked to bring tea and cookies for consumption after Dr. Gray's lecture.