Man who sought new liver on billboards dies
A man whose family’s high-profile — and successful — campaign to solicit a donated liver to save his life has died, eight months after the transplant. According to the Houston Chronicle, It was not clear whether Todd Krampitz, 32, who died April 20, succumbed to liver cancer, transplant-related complications, or some other cause.
Family members did not release a public statement other than to thank supporters and to indicate Krampitz donated his corneas for transplantation. He was suffering from liver cancer when he made his appeal via billboards and the Internet in the summer of 2004, which led to his transplant that August.
The family of a dead man had heard about Krampitz and opted to make a direct donation of the dead man’s liver directly to Krampitz, prompting critics to charge that the move might have diverted a liver from a patient in greater need or with a greater chance for survival. He had been refused admission to the nationally directed transplant list because of the advanced state of his cancer and the risk that a transplant would not save his life. Supporters argued that the family that donated the liver might not have donated anything at all without the media attention.
Celebrity endorsements influence health screenings
Celebrity endorsements of cancer screening tests reach the majority of Americans adults and influence many of their decisions about cancer screening, according to a new study by researchers at Dartmouth Medical School (DMS) and the U.S. Veterans Administration (VA) Outcomes Group. More than one-half of adults surveyed nationwide had seen or heard celebrity endorsements of cancer screening tests, and more than one fourth reported that it made them more likely to undergo the promoted screening test, the researchers reported in the May 4 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.
"Celebrity endorsements of cancer screening tests typically consist of one-sided messages either asserting that the celebrity’s life was saved by a cancer screening test or suggesting that the life of a loved one was lost due to a failure to be screened. These types of well-meaning efforts to promote cancer screening contribute to the public perception that screening is a responsibility and that there are no downsides to being screened," says Steve Woloshin, MD, MS, associate professor of medicine and of community and family medicine at DMS and co-author of the study.
The authors point to some potential problems with these types of messages.
"Whether to undergo cancer screening is a complex decision — early detection of cancer will help some people, but it can create problems for others, such as unnecessary testing and treatment," the authors wrote. "There is little question that celebrities can have a powerful impact on the public and that their influence can be put to good use. However, when it comes to public health endorsements, we feel that celebrities should be judicious in using their powers of persuasion. . . . [W]hen it comes to communicating about complex decisions such as cancer screening, the goal should not be to persuade but to inform. Thus, we see no obvious role for celebrity endorsement of cancer screening."
CDC: Vaccinate those most at risk first
Despite widespread fears and an international shortage of flu vaccine, the 2004-2005 flu season proved only moderate, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Nonetheless, only those most at risk should be the first vaccinated this coming fall, because there remains uncertainty over the vaccine supply and the severity of the flu season can’t be accurately forecast, the head of CDC told Congress in May.
"We want the flu shot in their arms first," said Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, director of the CDC, referring to the elderly, the chronically ill, and the very young. Gerberding was addressing members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee as the government seeks to boost vaccine supplies and avoid another shortage.
Manufacturers such as Chiron Corp., Sanofi-Pasteur, and GlaxoSmithKline are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to guarantee adequate supplies, but Gerberding said health officials should plan on delivering the vaccine only to those most at risk, until supplies are known. Those at high risk for complications from the flu include those 65 or older, nursing home residents, those with chronic conditions such as heart or lung disease, babies and toddlers ages 6 to 23 months, pregnant women, and health care workers who treat high-risk patients.
A man whose familys high-profile and successful campaign to solicit a donated liver to save his life has died, eight months after the transplant.You have reached your article limit for the month. Subscribe now to access this article plus other member-only content.
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