Interdisciplinary surveillance of intraventricular haemorrhage associated conditions in infants <1000 g.

Aim: Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) causes some of the most adverse outcomes in infants with birthweight <1000 g. Incomplete antenatal steroids, acidosis, inflammation, postnatal transfer, delayed surfactant administration, hypothermia, hypotension, hypocapnia, persistent ductus arteriosus and pneumothorax are all associated with IVH. We hypothesized that prospective surveillance of these IVH-associated conditions decreases their frequency and thus the frequency of IVH.

International perspectives on the ethics and regulation of human cell and tissue transplantation.

The transplantation of human cells and tissues has become a global enterprise for both life-saving and life-enhancing purposes. Yet current practices raise numerous ethical and policy issues relating to informed consent for donation, profit-making, and quality and safety in the procurement, processing, distribution, and international circulation of human cells and tissues. This paper reports on recent developments in the international debate surrounding these issues, and in particular on the attention cell and tissue transplantation has received in WHO's ongoing process of updating its 1991 Guiding principles on human organ transplantation.

Improving institutional fairness to live kidney donors: donor needs must be addressed by safeguarding donation risks and compensating donation costs.

The number of kidney transplants from live donors is increasing worldwide, yet donor needs have not been satisfactorily addressed in either developed or developing countries. This paper argues that unmet donor needs are unfair to live kidney donors in two ways. First, when safeguards against the risks of donation are insufficient, live donation can impair the donor's health and thus his or her fair opportunities to access jobs and offices and to function as a free and equal citizen more generally.

Neonatal end-of-life practice in a German perinatal centre.

Aim: To investigate the end-of-life practice in a large perinatal centre in Germany.

Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed in all neonates deceased in the delivery room (n = 31) and the neonatal intensive care unit (n = 47) between 2002 and 2004.

Results: Neonatal death was preceded by an end-of-life decision (EOLD) in 81% of cases in the delivery room and 83% in the neonatal intensive care unit.