Latest on CPR April 1, 2008

CPR, also known as Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation can mean life and death for a person. Here is the latest news on CPR. Dont forget to check out the MrBean video at the end.

The not-so-old 2005 AHA CPR guidelines put much more emphasis on chest compressions as opposed to rescue breaths. For the first time, the AHA advised CPR performers to give 30 compressions for every two rescue breaths, i.e. 30:2 (the old ratio was 15:2).

It’s not ABC anymore, DocAroundTheClock half-jokingly wrote, it’s ACB (airway, compressions, breathing).

Well, it looks like it will be just AC (airway, compressions) from now on. Click here for the official AHA advisory on Hands-Only (Compression-Only) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation published in Circulation (PDF file).

According to the CNN report from the 2008 AHA meeting, chest compressions-only CPR works as well as the standard technique in adults:

“Bystanders will now be more willing to jump in and help if they see someone suddenly collapse. Hands-only CPR is simpler and easier to remember and removes a big barrier for people skittish about the mouth-to-mouth breathing.

“You only have to do two things. Call 911 and push hard and fast on the middle of the person’s chest.”

Hands-only CPR calls for uninterrupted chest presses — 100 a minute — until paramedics take over or an automated external defibrillator is available to restore a normal heart rhythm.

This action should be taken only for adults. A child who collapses is more likely to primarily have breathing problems — and in that case, mouth-to-mouth breathing should be used.”

See the CNN video: Heart Association: Hands-only CPR works.

Mr. Bean did not feel very comfortable performing mouth-to-mouth breathing either, as you can see from this YouTube video (not to be taken seriously).

 This post appeared on cases blog.

 

Health Professionals about to lose the Veil March 22, 2008

It looks like Female Muslim doctors in UK can no longer wear the veil when they are with the patients. Good move i say. Enough is Enough.

Female Muslim doctors must be prepared to remove their veil to treat patients effectively, under new guidelines issued yesterday.
Religious clothing must not present a barrier to building trust and communicating with patients, the General Medical Council said.
Doctors should be prepared to set aside personal and cultural preferences, advised the document, Personal Beliefs and Medical Practice.
The council also said doctors must be open about procedures they object to because of their beliefs, such as abortion.

The Muslim Council of Great Britain supports the GMC guidance saying that female Muslim doctors have a responsibility to put patient care first.

Women could wear the hijab, which covers the head but not the face.

Dr Abdullah Shehu, the chairman of the Muslim Council’s medical committee, said: “While wearing a veil does not preclude someone from practising medicine, there is no harm in removing it where the ability to communicate or care for the patient is compromised. The Muslim community very much welcomes this guidance.”

The guidance states: “Some patients, for example, may find that a face veil worn by their doctor presents an obstacle to effective communication and the development of trust.

“You must be prepared to respond to a patient’s individual needs and take steps to anticipate and overcome any perceived barrier to communication.”

Other issues covered by the guidance are that doctors cannot refuse to care for patients before or after having an abortion because they object to the procedure.

They must also respect the views of Jehovah’s Witnesses, who refuse treatment if it involves having blood transfusions.

This article appeared in Women Against Shariah which is a site all women could subscribe to and learn from . There is nothing wrong in asking questions and reading material critical of a certain religion.

An Election year: What do we need to ask ourselves and the candidates on health care March 8, 2008

This is an election year. So it seems like to be anyway.

Many candidates are giving us the impression that they are the saviors of us. The one who can bring us the prosperity and democracy and freedom which we all are craving for. One thing many of us are rather blindly neglecting are the policies they have put forward. Policies on housing, education, social security etc…

Among the most rather accomplished and privileged people who are contesting had not put forward a robust health policy which is very concerning for me. How are they going to achieve universal health care for all of us Maldivians?

The problems faced by IGMH is evident on the Maldives Medical Watch blog. To be very honest, i don’t think that there is much they could do to avoid such deaths from happening. There are certain things which they could do but what if there is no political will to do it?

As a voter it will be wise to ask this question among yourselves. Who among these candidates really understand my needs as a patient, a care giver or in many cases as a health provider such as IGMH? Who among these candidates really understands the pain a drug addict goes through? Who among these understands what the families of disabled children has to go through? How hard it is for them? Who among these had ever mentioned such and such so far?

So ask this question among yourselves. What can these people actually do to help me and my family when i and my family get sick? Is 300 dollars and a Flight ticket to India the solution? Really?

health Insurance : A long Forgone March 5, 2008

An Idea that has been going on for some time February 27, 2008

Why not make a network among the parents whose children have been disabled due to negligence, from the mistreatment and malpractice. May be the NGOs can lead this initiative. NGOs like Care Society can do this as they claim they are there for the vulnerable and as an advocate for the disabled.

This network can be used as a way to find courage and strength from each other. A way to dig up the injustices that has been done. This network can, as a collective effort, SUE the people and the hospitals who have been responsible and has gotten away so far.When i think of such an initiative, Erin Brockovich comes to my mind.

WHAT IS LACKING IS LEADERSHIP.

It was yesterday that a Cerebral Palsy child was awarded 5.4 million pounds in compensation due to negligence and malpractice.

Angry comments does not help February 22, 2008

Have a look at Maldives Medical Watch blog. The comments section is proof that all is not well at IGMH. Not well among themselves. There seems to be a lot of anger and frustration that is pouring in to the comments section. Need some advice?  Geek doctor has some for you all.

“Every time I have responded to angry email with emotion I have regretted it. Although it may feel good to respond to a negative email with a venomous answer, emotion is never appropriate. I tell my staff that if they ever feel emotion while writing an email, “save as draft”. Get someone else to review the response first. Send it after a day of rest.

Thus, keep a stiff upper lip, have a thick skin, and run each day based on your trajectory not the position of your ego. “

The state of health care February 15, 2008

The comments on Maldives Medical Watch blog is telling us the state of the doctors in our hospitals are. There is much bickering and anger demonstrated. I wonder how they can take care of us when they themselves are in such a mess.

Latest on MMR vaccine and Autism February 12, 2008

I blogged on this issue of MMR vaccine sometime back. Like i said then, and even now i am not against the MMR vaccine. My whole purpose is to make people aware of whats happening.

This might be just what IGMH needs February 9, 2008

No pun intended but I think the Serbia’s health system has come out with the solution. The one and only solution that can get rid of all problems faced by all hospitals.

BELGRADE (Reuters) - A ban on grumpiness, gossiping, mini-skirts and rudeness is what the doctor orders to improve patient care in Serbia’s hospitals, according to new rules issued by the country’s Health Ministry.

The rules, posted on the ministry’s Web site, say staff are not allowed to criticize their hospital or their superiors, and should not accept gifts for their services.

Hospital staff are often bribed with cash or gifts for attention or better treatment.

“There needs to be ground rules for decency,” a ministry spokesman said.

Serbia’s public health system crumbled during the conflicts of the 1990s, with patients’ relatives having to provide everything from bandages and antibiotics to food.

Funding improved as stability returned but bribery, often involving hundreds of euros, is still widespread.

(Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; editing by Ellie Tzortzi and Andrew Dobbie)

Taken from here.