News
BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39118.518160.4E (Published 08 February 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:280
New York bulk buys condoms: The New York city health department will buy more than 20 million condoms and packets of lubricant to prevent HIV/AIDS. Special packaging will allow it to track usage. The department promotes free condoms and distributes 1.5 million each month through bars, health clubs, advocacy groups, restaurants, nail salons, night clubs, and prisons.
Italian anaesthetist wins vote of confidence: The Medical Board of Cremona has decided unanimously that the Italian anaesthetist Mario Riccio, who last December sedated the terminally ill patient Piergiorgio Welby and detached him from the ventilator at his own request, acted according to medical ethics (BMJ 2007;334:9).
NICE sticks by its colorectal cancer guidance : The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has published final guidance on the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer in England and Wales. Despite pleas from Bowel Cancer UK and Cancerbackup and an appeal by Merck, it does not recommend the use of bevacizumab for first line treatment or cetuximab after the failure of a regimen containing irinotecan chemotherapy. See www.nice.org.uk.
Polypill goes on trial in Iran: A clinical trial will examine the effects of a polypill on middle aged and elderly Iranians. The study is scheduled to recruit 500 men and women without raised blood pressure or raised cholesterol concentration. The theory is that combination therapy with aspirin, antihypertensive drugs, and a statin will reduce incidence of cardiovascular disease. The polypill will contain 75 mg aspirin, 1.25 mg hydrochlorothiazide, 2.5 mg enalapril, and 10 mg atorvastatin.
South African health professionals offered amnesty: The Health Professions Council of South Africa has agreed to a one-off waiver until 30 April 2007 of penalties for practitioners who failed to pay their annual registration fees on time or who allowed their registration to lapse without informing the council. They will be expected to work for 100 hours in the public health service within six months of their restoration.
NICE gives guidance on head cancer: Cetuximab in combination with radiotherapy is not recommended for patients in England and Wales with locally advanced squamous cell cancer of the head and neck, according to preliminary guidance from the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). The same drug has been accepted for restricted NHS use in Scotland in combination with radiation treatment for the same group of patients.