The Medical journal of Australia
-
To report the first "domino-donor" operation performed in Australia; review the results of the first five combined procedures at the Alfred Hospital; and discuss the advantages of the procedure and its place in transplantation. ⋯ Four advantages of the domino procedure are evident: an increased pool of donor allografts; the use of a heart with an hypertrophied ("prepared") right ventricle; absence of the adverse effects of brain-death in the live donor; and improved ability to match the donor and recipient before the operation.
-
To review the legal provisions which control the prescription of opioid analgesics in Australia, and to summarise the areas in which practitioners who treat patients with chronic pain may expect to become involved with the legal system. ⋯ The prescription and administration of opioid analgesics must be in accordance with the legislative provisions. Treatment options must be discussed and explained to patients so that valid consent can be obtained. Patients' questions must be answered in full, and documentation in the clinical record is required.