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PAGE 6, WEIJNESDAY. JUNE 25, 1980, WIIITBY FREE PRESS Jur y wants better heart monitoring CONT'D FROM PG. 1 evening of the operation, bis body was burning up stored energy in the morning producing acid. The sedation given him prior to the operation decreased Havard 's respiration thereby wor- sening the high acid level in bis blood, Pelton siad adding that the anaesthetic given him decrease bis heart beat adding to the situation. Pelton also said that the boy's heart could not fun- ction because he had been given too great a dose of a drug that increases heart beat and prevents reflex ac- tion. He also said that the high acid level could have detec- ted through monitoring of blood pressure, pulse and heart beat. The anaesthetist at the operation, Dr. Frederick A. Cuddy had testified earlier in the inquest that he had taken the boy's blood pressure only before the operation and had listened to bis heart beat periodically. cuddy, a 50 year rnember of the medical profession, said that he had taken his last pulse check at 9 a.m., 10 minutes before il was discovered that it had stop- ped. The inquest jury also made the following recom- mendation: -that patients receive a complete medical examination at least one week prior to surgery; -that another, mandatory, examination complete with x-rays be given 24 hours before an operation; -that blood pressure be checked at five minute in- tervals during surgery; -that anaesthetic machinary be mnodified and updated; -vaporizers be frequently recallibrated; -that operating rooms be stocked with ail necessary drugs; -in the event of a mnedical emergency (cardiac arrest, etc) ail personnel be assigned sipecifie tasks; -hospitals should make available portable life sustaining equipment for transfers; and, -that an independelit review board be established to monitor hospit1l procedures and equipment. tion Fightiùg Special s