Have you ever heard of Polyheme Resuscitative fluid for acute blood loss?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Sep 10, 2006

media reported concerns regarding clinical trials involving informed consent re this product. google search today shows that several facilities conducting trials 2005 and 2006 re product.

polyheme: blood-substitute study is criticized by us agency thomas ...

bioethics.net :: letter to the editor: in defense of the polyheme ..

|| dukemednews || polyheme trial to begin monday at duke ....

uc polyheme project -

ZASHAGALKA, RN · Sep 10, 2006

It's still in trials, and holds much promise, but I agree with this statement:

http://www.bioethics.net/journal/j_articles.php?aid=998

"Once blood is available, they profess, randomization should be reserved for consenting subjects."

To offer polyheme, an unproven therapy, IN PLACE of the standard of care, blood, without consent, is unethical. Until such time as the FDA approves it as a standard of care, critically ill patients should not be forced to 'hope' that THEY aren't the guinea pigs of some drug trial.

Kind of reminds me of testing the affects of nuclear fallout by using unwitting test subjects. Just because the gov't approves of such test does NOT mean that they are truly in YOUR best interests.

~faith,

Timothy.

muffie, RN · Nov 10, 2006

saw it on dateline or some program like that

Logos · Nov 11, 2006

There was a big article on it in scientific america or popular science, -something like that.

It carries oxygen to the brain very quickly because it's molecules are smaller than blood molecules. I understand it can have amazing results. (Oxyegn to the brain twice as fast as blood?)

I believe at this time there are several major contenders in the research for an artifical blood.

I read the article awhile ago- & I'm just a student nurse so I don't have advanced medical training, but I remember thinking damn I want that.

These artifical blood products are worth the research dollars.

Nemhain · Nov 11, 2006

...
To offer polyheme, an unproven therapy, IN PLACE of the standard of care, blood, without consent, is unethical. Until such time as the FDA approves it as a standard of care, critically ill patients should not be forced to 'hope' that THEY aren't the guinea pigs of some drug trial.
Kind of reminds me of testing the affects of nuclear fallout by using unwitting test subjects. Just because the gov't approves of such test does NOT mean that they are truly in YOUR best interests.
~faith,
Timothy.

Exactly! Patients should be made aware of the treatment they are to be given. Giving the polyheme without consent of the patient is considered battery in my book.