Infection Rate Study Exonerated - More Lives Will Be Saved

Almost two months ago, I brought a government-induced travesty to your attention. It regarded a study on a way to cut hospital infections which was being undertaken by Dr. Peter Pronovost, a physician from Johns Hopkins. To that date, it had saved 1500 lives, lost none, and had cost nothing.

Here are the basics: This was a study that took place in 70 hospitals in Michigan. A five-point checklist was set up to be used by doctors and other hospital personnel that reminded them to do things like wash their hands and change into sterile gowns. When the checklist was used, catheter-related infections were cut by two-thirds, and infections in the Intensive Care Unit were cut to ZERO. None.

The travesty? The study was shut down because the government said the participants had not signed informed consent forms. The Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP), a government agency, said that since there were no signatures, the study was experimental.

The Update: A report in the Baltimore Sun that says the study is back on, and the researchers, doctors and healthcare workers can resume saving lives using their check lists. It seems the OHRP has reversed itself and it now believes the the rules governing experimental studies don't apply to this study.

I have mixed feelings about these results. My first is -- what was the OHRP thinking to begin with? It's not like the checklist, which reminded healthcare workers to do those things they have been mandated to do anyway, could have any kind of negative effect on a patient. They were guidelines! Reminders! Like setting your alarm clock to wake up in the morning.

Then I remember that we are talking about bureaucrats keen on job security.

Then I thank heavens they came to their senses. As effective as these checklists are, more lives will be saved. I'm thankful those researchers stuck to their guns on this one.

Sometimes it pays to step back and use our common sense, doesn't it?
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