Action on human albumin not swift enough

The Department of Health has dragged its feet over the findings of the Cochrane Injuries Group on human albumin, and it is not providing sufficient interim advice to doctors, according to the principal author of the group's report, Ian Roberts.

Human albumin is used in the emergency treatment of shock, acute management of burns, and clinical situations associated with hypoprotein-aemia. A systematic review showed that albumin administration results in six extra deaths for every 100 patients treated (25 July, p 235p-40).

Dr Roberts claims that he alerted the department to the findings in the first week of April. An emergency meeting …