Ethical issues surrounding Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation – a case study
Introduction
Emergency Preservation and Resuscitation – or less elegantly, “suspended animation” – is a form of induced hypothermia that could potentially be used in clinical trauma settings to preserve life.1 The phrase “suspended animation” conjures visualizations of astronauts traveling through deep space in an unconscious, hypothermia-induced coma. The idea, however, has been discussed since the 1940’s, thoughtfully documented and described in the in the 1960’s-1970’s and further analyzed in the 1980’s and 1990’s.1 There have even been animal studies to better understand the impact on specific organs (the brain, for example) upon traumatic blood loss, cardiac arrest, suspended animation and resuscitation.2 With all of this discussion, human clinical trials have not existed…until very recently.…show more content… Samuel Tisherman and his colleagues at the University of Pittsburgh have been integral in developing and executing these animal studies.3 His team is now leading the effort to expand testing in humans with a Phase II emergency-based clinical trial that will attempt to “cryo-preserve” 10 patients with traumatic knife or gunshot wounds.4 This induced hypothermia will slow cellular metabolism and provide surgeons extra time (hours, perhaps) to repair traumatic damage in an attempt to save the patient, using a similar process that Dr. Tisherman and his team tested on dogs.4
This paper aims to examine some of the inherent ethical issues with this particular study, with an emphasis on deferred informed consent and treating patients with un-proven methods in an emergency setting. The authors will then make a determination on whether or not this particular study should occur and will discuss justifications, and possible consequences for, that
