Unexpected medical coincidences require systematic and careful strategies: an example
- 1Dept of Paediatrics, The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- 2Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Unit, The National Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Correspondence to:
Dr E Ruud, Dept of Pediatrics, National Hospital, 0027 Oslo, Norway;
ellen.ruud{at}rikshospitalet.no
- Accepted 5 October 2002
Abstract
In a cohort of 14 children with identical cardiac xenografts, two boys developed acute myeloid leukaemia 11 and 16 months respectively after the operation. A dedicated working group designed a scheme intending to take care of all aspects of the situation. This article focuses on preferred strategies towards patients, relatives, government, and the media. We did not find any substantial evidence supporting the association between bovine xenografts and two cases of acute myeloid leukaemia.
