Ethics Governance
Ethics & Governance - Resources and Articles |
| Articles indexes: a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | w | x | y | z | other | |
|
|
| Article - Abstract. To view full article click on the article title. | |
MJA: Ashby, Teaching resuscitation on the newly deceased: do we want to know? Teaching resuscitation on the newly deceased: do we want to know? Time for public scrutiny and debate MJA 1996; 165: 412-413. Using the newly deceased for the teaching of resuscitation techniques has been debated in the mainstream journals and medical ethics literature overseas for more than a decade, but in this issue of the Journal (page 445) Ginifer and Kelly bring the subject into the public domain for the first time in Australia. In their survey of selected Australian emergency departments, the practice of teaching resuscitation techniques using the bodies of newly deceased patients was found to be widespread but relatively infrequent. Consent from relatives was rarely obtained, and most emergency departments had no written policies governing this practice. Ginifer and Kelly question the educational need for such experience and raise ethical and legal issues. In considering the need for teaching of resuscitation techniques, it is important to distinguish between minimally invasive procedures such as endotracheal intubation (by far the most commonly practised procedure), central venous cannulation and pericardiocentesis and more extensive procedures such as tracheostomy or emergency thoracotomy. The performance of emergency thoracotomy for any reason in the emergency department is exceedingly rare, typically being undertaken only by surgeons on patients with penetrating chest trauma with profound shock or recently lost vital signs. Full Article: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/oct21/ashby/ashby.html |
|
2006 Ethics-Governance.com |
|||