Tag Archives: United States

Mexico’s Day of the Dead

Southern and Central Mexicans honor their ancestors

The Mexican Day of the Dead is actually celebrated over two days, Nov.1 and Nov. 2, in Central and Southern Mexico. Legend holds that at midnight on Oct. 31, the gates of heaven fly open and release the souls of those … Continue reading

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Study Estimates Medical Error Is Third Leading Cause of Death in USA

A recent study from John Hopkins University urges systemic change to reduce medical error

Researchers at John Hopkins School of Medicine published a report in The BMJ earlier this month that estimates that preventable medical error is the third leading cause of death in the United States. Medical error includes surgical complications that go … Continue reading

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Sealing a Gravesite with Stones: A Cross-Cultural Tradition

The ritual of leaving a small stone at a gravesite resonates across Jewish and Christian traditions

Leaving a small stone on a gravesite is a gesture recognizable from Hollywood film, which reflects a centuries-old practice found in both Jewish and pre-Christian European traditions. While the practice has historical and cultural origins, it has in recent years … Continue reading

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Estate of Dr. Death Includes Original Oil Paintings

Dr. Jacob Kevorkian's estate reveals passion and pain around the politics of death

Jacob “Jack” Kevorkian (May 26, 1928 – June 3, 2011) was known widely as “Dr. Death” for his highly politicized pioneering efforts to legalize assisted dying in the United States. In 1991, a judge dismissed a murder charge against Kevorkian, … Continue reading

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Our Weekly Tip: Carry Your Loved One With You As Memorial Jewelry

Custom jewelry featuring remains of loved ones keeps the memories close

Our Tip of the Week: One of the great benefits of cremation is that you can carry the memory of your loved one — a person or pet — with you in a very tangible way. Memorial jewelry, popular in the Victorian … Continue reading

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Getting Married Could Help Post-Surgery Recovery

A study finds that married people recover faster after heart surgery than unmarried people

Thousands of classic jokes poke fun at the stresses of marital life, but science says marriage might actually save our lives. A new study from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania found that people who are married … Continue reading

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