I've just watched what I think is the most depressing news program ever. The first two items had me sitting in front of the television with tears in my eyes. Today, a report was released into pathology practises at the Alder Hey hospital in Liverpool, UK. One pathologist spent years stockpiling organs taken from child autopsies, without parental consent. A combination of his deceit and weak management meant that it's taken years for the truth about this to become fully known, some families having held multiple funerals for their children as more stored organs came to light. The thought of discovering that one's relatives had not be buried whole, and that one's wishes had been ignored regarding the scope of an autopsy, is just horrible. There then followed the first coverage that I've seen of the earthquake in India. Estimates range from 20,000 dead to 100,000. I knew some days ago about the quake, but hadn't seen any coverage until now. At times like this, I feel very lucky to be where I am (in terms of geographical location, and life), very insignificant, and very very powerless. Sobering. Depressing. --Chris
