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Elective ventilation of potential organ donors
Elective ventilation and diagnosis of death are mutually exclusiveEDITOR,--I am surprised that Hany Riad and Anthony Nicholls wish to debate elective ventilation of potential organ donors further despite recent confirmation of its illegality.1 Adoption of any medical process requires careful scientific investigation and evidence. The published evidence in support of elective ventilation is based on a tiny study in Exeter of nine patients admitted to intensive care.2 Four of these patients were admitted in breach of the agreed protocol, and in one case brain stem death did not ensue in the intensive care unit and the patient was transferred back to the wards after five days. On a national level this degree of error in diagnosis would create enormous distress.
More concerning is the "soft sell" with regard to the extraordinarily difficult areas of timing of ventilation and time of death. In the original study in Exeter six of
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- An Ethical Debate: Elective ventilation of potential organ donors
- Hany Riad and Anthony Nicholls
BMJ 1995 310: 714-715.[Extract] [Full Text]
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