BMJ  2003;327:68 (12 July), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7406.68

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In brief

Conjoined twins die in surgery: Attempts by doctors in Singapore to separate Iranian conjoined twins failed this week when both women, aged 29, died during a marathon operation to separate them. Ladan Bijani was the first to succumb, shortly after surgeons separated her head from that of her sister, Laleh, who died an hour and a half later.

Hospital offers patients red wine: Cardiac patients at the Great Western Hospital in Swindon are being given two glasses of red wine a day in an attempt to cut the risk of heart attack and stroke. The cost is borne by the hospital's charity.

US doctors win victory on working hours: New regulations have taken effect across the US limiting the working hours of resident physicians (junior doctors) to an average of 80 hours a week and shifts to 24 consecutive hours. The rules, formulated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, also call for at least 10 hours off between shifts and one day off a week.

UK health secretary meets BMA consultants: Formal talks took place this week between health secretary John Reid and representatives of the BMA, over the consultant contract. Mr Reid said he would see whether "adjustments" could be made to reconcile differences. Consultants in England and Wales rejected the contract last November ( BMJ 2002;325: 1053[Free Full Text]), since when they have voted for industrial action if it cannot be renegotiated.

Methadone use could be linked to deaths: An increase in the use of methadone as a prescribed painkiller may be responsible for an increase in deaths from the drug in North Carolina. Unintentional deaths attributed to an overdose of methadone increased fivefold from 1997 to 2001, but only 4% of people who died were taking part in a rehabilitation programme at the time. Methadone's effects as a painkiller wear off after 12 hours, although the drug lingers in the body for many hours more, making it easy to overdose ( JAMA 2003;290: 40[Free Full Text]).

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Relevant Article

Black report remains helpful to government

Jim G Howe
BMJ 2003 327: 752. [Extract] [Full Text]