Whose life is it anyhow?: Dr Simon Cohen Robson Books, London, 1993, 206 pages. £16.95
1
lNTENSIVEANDCRITICAL(:ARENURSlNG 209 Wales 15 September (Full study day): Renal/Nemo/Trauma. Welsh Development Agency, Treforest Industrial Estate, Taffswell, Mid Glamorgan. Members E14, non-members f20. Contact: John Albarran, c/o ITU, Southmead Hospi- tal, Bristol. Tel: 0272 505050 x3 18013 18 1. Wessex 9 October (Half study day): Burns/Spinal Injuries. Odstock Hospital, Salisbury. Members f8, non-mem- bers f20. 30 November (Evening): ECG Interpretation. Basing- stoke District Hospital. Members free, non-members f5. Contact: Carolyne Boyles, Tel: 0703 785033 (daytime) or Wendy Freeman. Tel: 0703 263640. West Midlands September: Major Trauma - ‘The Golden Hour’. Venue and cost to be announced. November (Full study day): Aspects of Critical Care. Venue and cost to be announced. Contact: Maggie Horner, M: IU, Birmingham Accident Hospital. Tel: 021 627 1627 x54551/3/4 or 021 627 8286. West Yorkshire 5 October (Evening): Tracheostomy - A Cut-throat Business! BUPA Hospital, Jackson Avenue, Rounday, Leeds. Members free, non-members f2. 2 November (Evening): Transport of the Critically Ill Patient. BUPA Hospital, Jackson Avenue, Rounday, Leeds. Members free, non-members f2. Contact: Lindsey Ingoldby, Surgical Unit, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds Tel: 0532 648164 x3696. BOOK REVIEWS Whose Life is it Anyhow? Dr Simon Cohen Robson Books, London, 1993,206 pages. f 16.95 The title of this book is not to be confused with the play by Brian Clarke, ‘Whose life is it anyway?’ It examines the ethico-moral dilemmas faced by doctors in intensive care units. The focus of the exploration is that of the medical practitioner and not of the patient or their significant others. Writing about the current dilemmas such as an increasingly ageing population, sophisticated tech- nology, a perceived increased demand from the public for advanced life saving technology, and faced with limited resources, Dr Cohen provides an emotional exploration of the issues. Guided by a belief that the public should be informed about the increasing problems of providing such sophisticated life saving treatments, he sets out the problems of prioritising within an increasingly restricted financial climate. Whilst the style of writing is easy to read, health professionals may find the lack of any firm con- clusions, or suggestions for resolving the problems unhelpful. The book’s intended audience should find the examples useful and the sensitive handling of the issues easy to follow. In conclusion this book provides some useful insights and examples of the dilemmas faced by all those working in intensive care. As such its value will be to those wishing to begin an analysis of their units current practices and values concerning such issues. BRIANMILLAR MA, RGN, DipN, PGCE(A) Brain Dead, Brain Absent, Brain Donors Peter McCullagh John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1993. 250 pages This book addresses the emotive concept of brain death and the links between brain death and organ donation. It has seven chapters, beginning with a review of the history and evolution of thinking about brain death and in chapter two moving to consider possible future trends and applications. These excellent chapters offer a very detailed examination of the issues and the debate from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Two further chapters examine the difficult issue of brain absence and the case of the anencephalic infant. Such an obviously emotive subject is handled sensi- tively by the author. The chapters will provide a useful reference point for discussion and debate by all those concerned with this tragic situation. Chapter six provides a detailed discussion concern- ing the treatment of Parkinsons sufferers with brain tissue transplants. The book concludes with an inter- esting exploration of the distinction between human subjects and human objects.
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Transcript of Whose life is it anyhow?: Dr Simon Cohen Robson Books, London, 1993, 206 pages. £16.95
lNTENSIVEANDCRITICAL(:ARENURSlNG 209
Wales 15 September (Full study day): Renal/Nemo/Trauma. Welsh Development Agency, Treforest Industrial Estate, Taffswell, Mid Glamorgan. Members E14, non-members f20. Contact: John Albarran, c/o ITU, Southmead Hospi- tal, Bristol. Tel: 0272 505050 x3 18013 18 1.
Wessex 9 October (Half study day): Burns/Spinal Injuries. Odstock Hospital, Salisbury. Members f8, non-mem- bers f20. 30 November (Evening): ECG Interpretation. Basing- stoke District Hospital. Members free, non-members f5. Contact: Carolyne Boyles, Tel: 0703 785033 (daytime) or Wendy Freeman. Tel: 0703 263640.
West Midlands September: Major Trauma - ‘The Golden Hour’. Venue and cost to be announced. November (Full study day): Aspects of Critical Care. Venue and cost to be announced. Contact: Maggie Horner, M: IU, Birmingham Accident Hospital. Tel: 021 627 1627 x54551/3/4 or 021 627 8286.
West Yorkshire 5 October (Evening): Tracheostomy - A Cut-throat Business! BUPA Hospital, Jackson Avenue, Rounday, Leeds. Members free, non-members f2. 2 November (Evening): Transport of the Critically Ill Patient. BUPA Hospital, Jackson Avenue, Rounday, Leeds. Members free, non-members f2. Contact: Lindsey Ingoldby, Surgical Unit, Seacroft Hospital, Leeds Tel: 0532 648164 x3696.
BOOK REVIEWS
Whose Life is it Anyhow? Dr Simon Cohen Robson Books, London, 1993,206 pages. f 16.95
The title of this book is not to be confused with the play by Brian Clarke, ‘Whose life is it anyway?’ It examines the ethico-moral dilemmas faced by doctors in intensive care units.
The focus of the exploration is that of the medical practitioner and not of the patient or their significant others. Writing about the current dilemmas such as an increasingly ageing population, sophisticated tech- nology, a perceived increased demand from the public for advanced life saving technology, and faced with limited resources, Dr Cohen provides an emotional exploration of the issues.
Guided by a belief that the public should be informed about the increasing problems of providing such sophisticated life saving treatments, he sets out the problems of prioritising within an increasingly restricted financial climate.
Whilst the style of writing is easy to read, health professionals may find the lack of any firm con- clusions, or suggestions for resolving the problems unhelpful. The book’s intended audience should find the examples useful and the sensitive handling of the issues easy to follow. In conclusion this book provides some useful insights and examples of the dilemmas faced by all those working in intensive care. As such its value will be to those wishing to begin an analysis of
their units current practices and values concerning such issues.
BRIANMILLAR MA, RGN, DipN, PGCE(A)
Brain Dead, Brain Absent, Brain Donors Peter McCullagh John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1993. 250 pages
This book addresses the emotive concept of brain death and the links between brain death and organ donation.
It has seven chapters, beginning with a review of the history and evolution of thinking about brain death and in chapter two moving to consider possible future trends and applications. These excellent chapters offer a very detailed examination of the issues and the debate from a variety of theoretical perspectives.
Two further chapters examine the difficult issue of brain absence and the case of the anencephalic infant. Such an obviously emotive subject is handled sensi- tively by the author. The chapters will provide a useful reference point for discussion and debate by all those concerned with this tragic situation.
Chapter six provides a detailed discussion concern- ing the treatment of Parkinsons sufferers with brain tissue transplants. The book concludes with an inter- esting exploration of the distinction between human subjects and human objects.
