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Home / Critical illness cover / - Aplastic Diesease
Definition
Permanent bone marrow failure which results in anaemia, neutropenia and thrombocytopenia requiring treatment with at least one of the following:
• blood transfusion;
• marrow stimulating agents;
• immunosuppressive agents; or
• bone marrow transplant.
What does this mean?
Aplastic anaemia is a rare and very serious form of anaemia in which there is a decrease in the quantity of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. This then causes impairment of all blood cell production. This condition can be present from birth or may develop in later life.
Definition
A definite diagnosis of Bacterial meningitis by a Consultant Neurologist resulting in permanent neurological deficit. All other forms of meningitis are excluded.
NEWS
'Cannabis could improve memory for Alzheimer's sufferers'
11 March 2008 17:09:16
The life insurance premiums of Alzheimer's sufferers may be affected by the news that cannabis-based treatments could improve memory loss in patients affected by the illness.
A compound present in cannabis significantly slows memory problems caused by Alzheimer's, researchers from Israel claim.
The scientists announced their findings this week at a meeting of cannabis experts hosted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Despite evidence that cannabis can trigger harmful mind-altering effects in users, researchers in Spain, Italy, the UK and the US have shown that the medicinal compound, cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive component of the drug.
The cannabis tests were conducted on mice and human trails are expected to follow.
But Dr Clive Ballard, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We need robust clinical trials into the potential benefits of non-psychoactive components of cannabis.
"It is important for people to note that these treatments are not the same as recreational cannabis use, which can be potentially harmful."
Meanwhile, adults whose parents were both diagnosed with Alzheimer's are at an increased risk of developing the disease, researchers in the US claim.
In a study published in the Archives of Neurology, 22 per cent of participants whose parents had both had the disease developed it themselves, compared to an estimated six to 13 per cent of the general population.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
Expert calls for dementia care debate
14 May 2008 13:06:21
A medical expert has called for a debate on the ethical dilemmas involved in caring for people with dementia.
Hugh Whittall, director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, explained that carers often face difficult decisions when looking after patients with dementia - an illness which may affect their life insurance premiums.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, as the council prepares to launch a public consultation on the issue, he said: "There are tricky problems that are faced every day by those people who not only suffer dementia but care for and look after people with dementia."
The expert added that problems include the issue of truth telling and he questioned whether a woman who repeatedly forgets that her husband has died and asks after him should be told on a daily basis that he has died.
He asked: "So whilst we value truth telling, should we protect the person from that grief?"
By speaking to people who work with carers, representatives of the Alzheimer's Society and health professionals, the council has found that they feel ill-equipped to deal with the key issues surrounding dementia patients, Mr Wittall added.
According to the Alzheimer's Society there are 700,000 dementia sufferers in the UK.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics expects to produce its final guidance in 2009.
Cancer drug hailed as 'potentially the most significant advance' in 70 years
22 July 2008 16:45:20
A new drug used to treat aggressive prostrate cancer has been hailed as "potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 years".
Abiraterone works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer and could be available to treat 80 per cent of patients, with and without life insurance policies, within two to three years.
The Institute of Cancer Research ran an advanced clinical trial which has involved 1,200 patients from around the globe and plans further trials later in the year.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21 patients with advanced, aggressive prostate cancer that have been treated with the drug experienced tumour shrinkage, and a drop in the levels of a key protein produced by the cancer.
Dr Johann de Bono, lead researcher of the trial warned, however, that larger trials were needed to confirm the findings.
He also said that at the moment the effect that the drug had on the life expectancy of cancer patients was not yet known.
However, he did say that the research believe they have "made a major step forward in the treatment of end-stage prostate cancer patients".
UK life insurance policy holders may be interested in news on the latest cancer treatments.
11 March 2008 17:09:16
The life insurance premiums of Alzheimer's sufferers may be affected by the news that cannabis-based treatments could improve memory loss in patients affected by the illness.
A compound present in cannabis significantly slows memory problems caused by Alzheimer's, researchers from Israel claim.
The scientists announced their findings this week at a meeting of cannabis experts hosted by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.
Despite evidence that cannabis can trigger harmful mind-altering effects in users, researchers in Spain, Italy, the UK and the US have shown that the medicinal compound, cannabidiol, is a non-psychoactive component of the drug.
The cannabis tests were conducted on mice and human trails are expected to follow.
But Dr Clive Ballard, of the Alzheimer's Society, said: "We need robust clinical trials into the potential benefits of non-psychoactive components of cannabis.
"It is important for people to note that these treatments are not the same as recreational cannabis use, which can be potentially harmful."
Meanwhile, adults whose parents were both diagnosed with Alzheimer's are at an increased risk of developing the disease, researchers in the US claim.
In a study published in the Archives of Neurology, 22 per cent of participants whose parents had both had the disease developed it themselves, compared to an estimated six to 13 per cent of the general population.
Direct Life and Pensions Services Ltd are one of the UK's leading providers of life insurance, term life assurance, mortgage protection, critical illness and life insurance advice online
14 May 2008 13:06:21
A medical expert has called for a debate on the ethical dilemmas involved in caring for people with dementia.
Hugh Whittall, director of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, explained that carers often face difficult decisions when looking after patients with dementia - an illness which may affect their life insurance premiums.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, as the council prepares to launch a public consultation on the issue, he said: "There are tricky problems that are faced every day by those people who not only suffer dementia but care for and look after people with dementia."
The expert added that problems include the issue of truth telling and he questioned whether a woman who repeatedly forgets that her husband has died and asks after him should be told on a daily basis that he has died.
He asked: "So whilst we value truth telling, should we protect the person from that grief?"
By speaking to people who work with carers, representatives of the Alzheimer's Society and health professionals, the council has found that they feel ill-equipped to deal with the key issues surrounding dementia patients, Mr Wittall added.
According to the Alzheimer's Society there are 700,000 dementia sufferers in the UK.
The Nuffield Council on Bioethics expects to produce its final guidance in 2009.
22 July 2008 16:45:20
A new drug used to treat aggressive prostrate cancer has been hailed as "potentially the most significant advance in the field for 70 years".
Abiraterone works by blocking the hormones which fuel the cancer and could be available to treat 80 per cent of patients, with and without life insurance policies, within two to three years.
The Institute of Cancer Research ran an advanced clinical trial which has involved 1,200 patients from around the globe and plans further trials later in the year.
According to a study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, 21 patients with advanced, aggressive prostate cancer that have been treated with the drug experienced tumour shrinkage, and a drop in the levels of a key protein produced by the cancer.
Dr Johann de Bono, lead researcher of the trial warned, however, that larger trials were needed to confirm the findings.
He also said that at the moment the effect that the drug had on the life expectancy of cancer patients was not yet known.
However, he did say that the research believe they have "made a major step forward in the treatment of end-stage prostate cancer patients".
UK life insurance policy holders may be interested in news on the latest cancer treatments.