Seven days in medicine: 26 July to 1 August 2017
BMJ 2017; 358 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.j3688 (Published 03 August 2017) Cite this as: BMJ 2017;358:j3688
Charlie Gard
Baby dies in hospice after prolonged life support is denied
Charlie Gard, a terminally ill baby with infantile onset encephalomyopathic mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome, died on Friday 28 July after being taken off a ventilator, in line with a ruling that life support should not be prolonged. After abandoning a four month legal battle with London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital for their son to be flown to the US for experimental treatment, Charlie’s parents applied to the High Court on 24 July asking to spend “a week or so” in a hospice with their son before he was taken off the ventilator. But they could not find an intensive care team required to care for Charlie in the hospice setting, and he died shortly after being transferred.
Kidney disease
Statins are recommended in NICE quality standard
People with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should be offered statins, specifically 20 mg of atorvastatin, to manage their increased risk of cardiovascular disease, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said in an updated quality standard.1 It added that adults who have or are at risk of CKD should have their estimated glomerular filtration rate and albumin:creatinine ratio tested frequently and that they should be supported to keep their blood pressure within the recommended range.
Brexit
BMA urges “flexible” immigration to keep NHS staffed
The BMA called for health organisations to be involved in determining the needs of the UK labour market …
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