As a well-traveled, well-educated couple who spent most of their lives in New York City, Philip and Ruth Barash had witnessed and experienced much as they approached their golden years. A savvy New York couple, they'd learned to anticipate challenges.

Philip was a U.S. Army veteran who'd served in the Korean War and later became an attorney; Ruth's education and experience includes philosophy, art, real estate, public relations and executive-level civic work. But one problem they didn't foresee was navigating their own country's health-care system. In the most prominent city of the wealthiest nation on the planet, how bad could it be?

"Philip's health problems began in 1988 and steadily continued until his death in 2012," says Barash, who shares her health-care experiences in a new book, "For Better or Worse: Lurching from Crisis to Crisis in America's Medical Morass," (http://forbetterorworsebook.com/).

"We were in and out of doctors' offices, hospitals and emergency rooms a lot, and I was shocked by the lack of compassion we frequently encountered, as well as the number of health-care professionals who simply are not good diagnosticians."

Barash's cautionary tale traces her husband's long death through a medical journey fraught with mismanagement and excess, useless interventions and a sometimes complete disregard for pain - even when there was no hope of healing.

"The art of intuitive, compassionate health care is dying as doctors rely more on technology and are guided through an arbitrary template established by insurance company policies," she says.

Barash discusses some of the lessons she has learned while navigating overcrowded and dingy emergency room lobbies, callous staff and tech-absorbed doctors.

• Have an advocate! Through the years of Philip's health problems, we encountered extreme kindness, thoughtfulness and high intelligence; we were also confronted with arrogance, indifference and self-serving staff during some of the worst moments. As hard as it was for both of us, we always knew we had each other. If and when you find yourself requiring medical assistance, avoid going it alone; it will be exponentially more difficult, and your chance for survival will exponentially decrease.

• Ask what benefits a proposed treatment will have. We all like to think we have good doctors, and that if we're hospitalized, we'll be competently cared for. We also like to think Santa will bring us nice presents if we've been good children. Realize that invasive and expensive tests are often not necessary; in fact, they often make things worse. Be as skeptical about a procedure proposed by a doctor as you would by any salesman.

• Don't get sick! While this may seem like a facetious bit of advice, since we all succumb to illness at some point - it's actually a sincere sentiment. Do not take your health for granted; do not think "they" will invent a quick fix between now and the time you find yourself in need of serious medical attention. Unnecessary health risks such as smoking; illegal drug use; excessive alcohol intake; and a diet filled with sugar, salt and fat will take you sooner rather than later to the hellish journey known as the U.S. health-care system.

About Ruth Fenner Barash

Ruth Fenner Barash studied philosophy at City College of New York and did graduate work at the University of Chicago. In 1958, she met and married Philip Barash, a private practice attorney. She went on to work in public relations and real estate, served education and civic organizations at the executive level, and taught art in various media. Her long marriage was a "harmonious adventure" despite the couple's treacherous journey through the health-care system. Her husband died in 2012.

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today signed a proclamation directing a special election be held on Jan. 7, 2014, for Iowa House District 25, which is being vacated by Rep. Julian Garrett following his election to the Iowa Senate earlier this month.

The proclamation's language is as follows:

WHEREAS, The Office of State Representative from the 25^th Representative District, consisting of the following areas:

a.      The city of Bevington.

b.     Madison county.

c.      In Warren county:

i.     The cities of Milo and Norwalk.

ii.     Jackson, Otter, Squaw, Virginia, and White Oak townships, and that portion of Linn township not contained in the forty-second representative district.

Has become vacant by the reason of the resignation of Representative Julian B. Garrett.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terry E. Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the law do hereby proclaim and direct that a special election to fill said vacancy shall be held within said District on

TUESDAY, THE 7^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2014, A.D.

WHEREFORE, all electors within said 25^th Representative District will take due notice and the County Commissioners of Elections of said counties will take official notice as provided in Iowa Code section 39.6, 2013.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I HAVE HERE­UNTO SUBSCRIBED MY NAME AND CAUSED THE GREAT SEAL OF THE STATE OF IOWA TO BE AFFIXED.  DONE AT DES MOINES THIS 25^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER IN THE YEAR OF OUR LORD TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN.

__________________________________

TERRY E. BRANSTAD

GOVERNOR OF IOWA

ATTEST:

MATT SCHULTZ

SECRETARY OF STATE

UUCQC's Immigration Project Team presents the First Friday Film for December:

The Graduates

Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Quad Cities

3707 Eastern Avenue, Davenport IA 563-359-0816

December 6, 2013  6pm-9pm

Open to the community, free of charge.

Please join us to view the movie and for discussion afterwards.