05/09/2012

Available for over a year

RISK How good at you at estimating risk? In this edition of Health Check, Claudia Hammond talks to Wolfgang Gaissmaier about his analysis of the increase in fatal car accidents in the USA following the 9/11 attacks. People turned from flying and decided to drive instead, believing it to be safer – the result was 1,600 extra road deaths that year. PAINKILLER MISUSE What are the risks and dangers of pain-killer misuse? We consult pharmacist Adam Mackridge of Liverpool John Moores University and Wilson Compton, addiction psychiatrist at the United States National Institute on Drug Abuse. RESUSCITATION And the dilemma for doctors who have to judge the right time to give up on attempting to resuscitate someone who's had a cardiac arrest. Is it worth them trying for a little longer? Cardiologist Brahmajee Nallamothu of the University of Michigan explains the findings of his survey of practice and outcomes in North American hospitals, published by the Lancet. (Image: Toyota cars crash during a collision test. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)