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Government sets up inquiry into ventilation trial

BMJ 1999; 318 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7183.553 (Published 27 February 1999) Cite this as: BMJ 1999;318:553
  1. Judy Jones
  1. MalmesburyWiltshire

    An inquiry has begun into research conducted at the North Staffordshire Hospital after parents alleged that they were misled into consenting to experimental treatment for their premature babies.

    A new type of ventilator was tested between 1989and 1993on 122babies who had breathing difficulties in a randomised controlled trial of a technique called continuous negative extrathoracic pressure (Pediatrics 1996;98:1154-60). Of these infants, 28died and 15sustained brain damage. In the control group, in which conventional treatment was given to the same total number of babies, 22died and 10sustained brain damage. The authors of the study and the hospital have claimed …

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