Hit by blockade and airstrikes, Gaza's hospitals in crisis - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Hit by blockade and airstrikes, Gaza's hospitals in crisis - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Breaking point... a wounded Palestinian man is carried on a stretcher into a hospital in Rafah. (AFP: Said Khatib)

Palestinian patients wearing masks, to protect themselves from smoke and dust caused by Israeli shelling, crowd at Gaza City's southern al-Quds hospital corridors, after a section of the medical facility was hit by Israeli fire. About 500 people including patients were huddled in a Gaza City hospital that suffered a "direct hit" in an Israeli air strike Thursday, the international Red Cross said.(AFP/Mehdi Fedouach)

Patients Denied Treatment Due to Siege

Basic medicines including those for the treatment of chronic illnesses and diseases such as cancer, renal and liver diseases are missing. Necessary medical supplies are becoming scarce and constant power cuts are damaging CT scan machines and x-ray equipment at hospitals in Gaza.
Article 24 of the Declaration of Human Rights states: " Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control." Health is not a commodity or a luxury but a basic right.

IT'S ON THE NEWS! What do you say?

A 13 year old girl refuses a heart transplant and is granted the wish to die. (nov. 2008)

As a treatment for her leukemia, young Hannah Jones was given doses of a drug which ultimately led to the development of a hole in her heart. The hospital has attempted to force her to undergo a heart tranplant, however, the young girl felt that she has suffered enough for several years and that she already had "too much trauma".

Aware of the result of her decision, Hannah chose to let go. Her family support her and are planning her dream trip to Disney World.

The "best interest" of Hannah was at issue. Who knows best and who is to decide? Her parents? the health care team? or Hannah herself although she is only 13?