Here are some of the latest health and medical news
developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Schoolgirl Shot by Taliban Released From Hospital
Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the
head by a Taliban gunman, was released from a British hospital
Friday. She was targeted because she was a vocal critic of the
group's opposition to girls' education.
She was airlifted to Britain after the Oct. 9 attack and since
then has undergone skull reconstruction and received a cochlear
implant to restore her hearing. Malala was released for a few weeks
in January but was re-admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in
Birmingham to undergo the latest surgeries, the
Associated Pressreported.
Malala will continue her rehabilitation at her family's
temporary home in Birmingham. She and her family are expected to
remain in the U.K. for some time. Her father has a job at the
Pakistani consulate in Birmingham.
Before her latest round of operations, Malala released a video
statement in which she said she was "getting better, day by day,"
and would continue to speak out about girls' education, the
APreported.
"I want to serve. I want to serve the people. I want every girl, every child, to be educated," Malala said in the video. She spoke clearly but the left side of her face appeared rigid.
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Several States Considering Assisted Suicide Bills
Bills to make physician-assisted suicide legal are being
considered in a number of states as the issue becomes more
prominent due to the growing number of baby boomers facing
end-of-life issues.
Proponents say there is strong public support for permitting
doctors to prescribe medications to enable terminally ill people
who are mentally competent to end their lives, the
Associated Pressreported.
A number of groups, including the national organization
Compassion & Choice, have been working to promote right-to-die
laws.
The states considering bills legalizing assisted suicide are
Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont.
In addition, bills related to the issue are under consideration in
Arizona, Montana, New Hampshire and New York, the
APreported.
Right-to-die laws were passed in Oregon and Washington after
voter referendums.
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Fewer Girls Undergoing Female Genital Mutilation: Report
Fewer girls in Africa and the Middle East are undergoing female
genital mutilation, according to new data released by the United
Nations.
In 29 countries in those regions, 36 percent of girls ages 15 to
19 had been subjected to the procedure, compared with about 53
percent of women ages 45 to 49,
BBC Newsreported.
Female genital mutilation typically involves removing the
clitoris. It can lead to bleeding, infections and childbirth
problems. Last year, 1,775 communities in Africa publicly declared
their commitment to end the practice.
The new figures show that it is possible to end female genital
mutilation, Anthony Lake, UNICEF's executive director, said in a
statement,
BBC Newsreported. He said that female genital mutilation is
"deeply wrong" and that "we can and must end it to help millions of
girls and women lead healthier lives."
The data was released on the international day calling for an
end to female genital mutilation.
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