X-Message-Number: 23906
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: Re: Francis Crick on consciousness and personhood
Date: Fri, 16 Apr 2004 16:25:07 +0100

> Message #23884
> From: "Mark Plus" <>
> Subject: Francis Crick on consciousness and personhood
> Date: Tue, 13 Apr 2004 15:48:47 -0700
<del>
> One potential application, he says, is some kind of instrument for
measuring
> its intensity, perhaps a "consciousometer." Anesthesiologists might use it
> to determine when a patient under sedation is truly out. But in his book,
< rest del>

from
http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994878

A large international trial has proved that a simple "awareness" device,
called a BIS monitor, can cut the number of cases of awareness during
surgery by 80 per cent.

and

Disturbingly, though, it seems that many anaesthetists do not
even recognise the need for a monitor because they
grossly underestimate the likelihood of patients becoming aware.

and

After around 1 in a 1000 operations done under a general
anaesthetic, a patient will have some recollection of the operation.

and

In 2003, the company that makes the device,
Aspect Medical Systems of Boston, won approval from the
US Food and Drug Administration to market it to prevent
awareness during operations too, based partly on the
 results of the trial.

and finally

In the end, the decision about BIS monitoring may be taken
out of anaesthetists' hands. Now that a monitor is available,
and has been proven to reduce awareness during surgery,
the fear of litigation may force its use in many countries.

***
 ... so litigation does have its uses after all!

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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