Bristol doctors found guilty of serious professional misconduct

Central venous catheters---time for a change?

“…Thus it is with routine scheduled changes of central venous catheters in patients requiring prolonged intensive care. If we are to believe the telephone survey by Cyna et al in this week's issue (p 1944),1 the policy of routinely replacing central venous catheters to reduce a perceived high incidence of catheter related sepsis appears to be ingrained in many British intensive care units. That this policy continues is surprising, since it is impossible to find a published randomised trial in the past 12 years supporting the contention that the incidence of catheter related sepsis increases with duration of catheterisation.…”

The ethics of intimate examinations---teaching tomorrow's doctors * Commentary: Respecting the patient's integrity is the key * Commentary: Teaching pelvic examination---putting the patient first

“…Public concern after the Bristol inquiry into paediatric heart surgery,1 the Alder Hey inquiry into organ retention and storage without consent,2 and other cases of malpractice has put pressure on the medical profession and government to ensure that unethical practices are challenged and prevented. Alongside this, consumers of health care have higher expectations not only of the standard of services and level of care provided, but also of the manner in which care is delivered.…”

One Bristol, but there could have been many

“…Some have been struck off by the General Medical Council 2. All will have paid a heavy price with sleepless nights.…”