Hearts on Battery Power

More patients are receiving partial artificial hearts — implantable pumps that help maintain adequate blood flow. Although the devices help many patients, they have sparked debate about what doctors should do when patients decide they want them switched off.

SOURCE: Thoratec | GRAPHIC: The Washington Post - April 23, 2008

This Story Heart Pump Creates Life-Death Ethical Dilemmas Article \| After bypass surgery and two heart attacks, the 62-year-old's heart was failing. Desperate, he grasped at his last hope: a surgically implanted heart pump. But following infections, kidney failure and other complications, along with months in the hospital, he returned home weaker than ever. Hearts on Battery Power		TOOLBOX E-Mail This Save/Share + Digg Facebook Reddit Twitter myspace SOURCE: Thoratec \| GRAPHIC: The Washington Post - April 23, 2008 ¬es=More patients are receiving partial artificial hearts — implantable pumps that help maintain adequate blood flow. Although the devices help many patients, they have sparked debate about what doctors should do when patients decide they want them switched off." onclick="if ( typeof otto != 'undefined' ) { }" onmouseover="changebg2('delicious')" onmouseout="resetbg2('delicious')" target="new">del.icio.us SOURCE: Thoratec \| GRAPHIC: The Washington Post - April 23, 2008 \'),\'newstrust\'+(new Date()).getMilliseconds(),\'dependent=no,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes,alwaysRaised=yes,status=yes,directories=yes,location=yes,menubar=yes,toolbar=yes,width=430,height=750,modal=no\'));ntw.focus();'" onclick="if ( typeof otto != 'undefined' ) { }" onmouseover="changebg2('newstrust')" onmouseout="resetbg2('newstrust')">NewsTrust Stumble It! COMMENT 0 Comments Your browser's settings may be preventing you from commenting on and viewing comments about this item. See instructions for fixing the problem. Discussion Policy CLOSE Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be removed from the site. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Finally, we will take steps to block users who violate any of our posting standards, terms of use or privacy policies or any other policies governing this site. Please review the full rules governing commentaries and discussions. You are fully responsible for the content that you post. Who's Blogging » Links to this graphic
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