As the blood supply gets safer, experts still call for ways to reduce the need for transfusions

Article Abstract:

Though blood transfusions save lives, they have health risks other than infection. The physician must evaluate a patient's general condition, not transfuse only on the basis of a hemoglobin level of 10 grams per deciliter. Blood must undergo screening tests for syphilis, HIV-1, HIV-2, human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type 1, hepatitis B and C and surrogate tests for non-A non-B hepatitis. Autologous collection of the patient's own blood during surgery, more careful surgical techniques, autotransfusion before elective surgery and the use of blood substitutes are possible ways to avoid adverse reactions from donor transfusions. The ideal blood substitute would be universally compatible, germ free, need no cross-matching, have a long shelf life and be stored conveniently. The perfluorocarbon blood substitute Fluosol can only be used to temporarily carry additional oxygen with other transfusion techniques, but is not a complete blood substitute.

Evaluation, Blood transfusion, Blood substitutes, Blood transfusion, Autologous, Autologous blood transfusion

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Experts at Buenos Aires conference predict pandemic of tobacco deaths

Article Abstract:

One-fifth of all the people living in industrialized countries will die of a smoking-related disease, according to data presented at the Eighth World Conference on Tobacco OR Health. Researchers estimate that two million people living in developed countries and one million living in developing countries will die each year from tobacco products. At the rate young people are taking up smoking, death rates 30 years from now will be considerably higher - three million a year in industrialized countries and seven million a year in developing countries. And death rates from smoking in women are rising, while those in men have stabilized. Another study found that carbon monoxide levels in non-smokers' blood increased when they worked in offices where smoking was allowed. Their cholesterol levels were also affected by passive smoking, which could be banned in all public buildings by the year 2000.

Health aspects, Smoking, Tobacco habit

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Prison Deaths Spotlight How Boards Handle Impaired, DisciplinedPhysicians

Article Abstract:

The deaths of several prisoners has highlighted the fact that many physicians with records of criminal or professional misconduct are hired by correctional facilities. In one case, a psychiatrist was hired by Correctional Medical Services (CMS), a St. Louis-based provider of correctional health care, even though they knew he had lost his license in two other states. They convinced Alabama's Medical Licensure Commission to give him a license restricted to practice in correctional facilities. Two wrongful death suits were filed after two inmates in Alabama's Kilby Correctional Facility died.

Cases, Patient outcomes, Mortality, Physicians, Medical malpractice, Prisoners, Correctional Medical Services Inc.

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