Pulse oximetry error in a patient with a Santa Ana haemoglobinopathy.

A young man with a rare unstable haemoglobinopathy presented with a high fever, worsening shortness of breath and abdominal pain. At triage his pulse oximetry (SpO2) suggested that his blood oxygen saturation was 84% at room air. However, an arterial blood gas (ABG) oxygen saturation reading (SaO2) was 100%.

Legal and ethical implications of NICE guidance aimed at optimising organ transplantation after circulatory death.

Increasing the number of organ transplants is a priority for most governments. While potential new legislation for donor registration, such as the Welsh Government white paper on establishing an opt-out system for Welsh residents, is the focus of most ethical and legal scrutiny, there are also other approaches to increase the number of patients receiving organ transplants. The then National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published guidance on this issue in 2011, but subsequent debate in this journal has suggested that the guidance was presumptuous and might encourage unethical practice.

Trial of management of borderline and other low-grade abnormal smears (TOMBOLA): Trial design.

Cervical screening reduces the risk of cervical cancer by detecting and treating cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The management of women with low-grade cervical abnormalities is controversial. Two management policies exist: repeat smears in primary care and colposcopy examination.