----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Taffler"
> Paramedics and other ambulance staff have very rigid
> protocols when diagnosing death. I agree that the risk
> of transporting 'corpses' is non-sensical, when
> patients are transported on emergency, for resus to be
> terminated at hospital amost as soon as the patient
> arrives. However, until etCO2 monitors are made
> available to us on the road, I do not believe that
> these protocols will change. There should be a
> concerted effort nationally to have etCO2 monitors as
> standard paramedic equipment. Perhaps then some of
> these pointless journeys will be avoided. This will be
> of benefit to staff and, importantly, to patients, who
> may be allowed more dignity in death, and to
> relatives, who will not be given false hope.
OK, but I can't quite see how CO2 monitoring will make a difference - the
diagnosis of circulatory arrest is clinical, isn't it?
Adrian Fogarty
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