posted by admin on May 15
So what do we do if the airconditioning unit in our building harbors a legionella organism?
I don’t think we yet have the answer. The risk of infection appears to be small.
There are certainly worse diseases in Australia carrying considerably more risk than causing 27 cases over a two-year period, and we accept them without panic.
It would appear to be impracticable to test all air-conditioning units in all of our public buildings to see whether they harbor any germs.
We just do not have those sort of testing facilities, but, even if we did, and even if large numbers were shown to harbor the organism, the risk appears to be small, and we have, as yet, no technology to eradicate the germ from this area.
Research has shown the organism may also be present in other collections of water, and it may well be that these are more important than air-conditioning units.
Time will undoubtedly lead to further explanation about this new (or old but previously unrecognised) germ, and how it can affect our health.
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posted by admin on May 15
The question of consent may be waived in an emergency if the doctor, to save the life of his patient, carries out treatment.
Most of the problems arise with minors and are concerned with the doctor’s suggesting a form of treatment, such as blood transfusion, with which the parents cannot agree.
In these circumstances, in most States, the law allows the doctor to move to have the child declared a ward of the State and then to seek permission to carry out the procedure.
This may not be acceptable to those parents who have a moral objection to the treatment, but does seem to satisfy majority public opinion.
The wishes of the parents cannot be automatically over-ruled; the doctor must obtain a second opinion and be able to show that his treatment is necessary to save life.
Some doctors are worried by the threat of later legal action should they accede to the wishes of their patient and withhold treatment which may be standard in the circumstances.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses have prepared a standard release form waiving their rights to sue for negligence when they have withheld permission for treatment, such as transfusion, which the doctor considers necessary-
This approach is an attempt by the group to make known their wishes and to co-operate with the medical profession without compromising what is to them a fundamental belief.
A doctor may disagree with their beliefs, yet he must respect their right to hold and to practise them.
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