Iatrogenic Splenic Injury in Percutaneous Procedures

audience was from a medical background, most of the speakers were not – the former Government Chief Scientist, a City financier, a climatologist, Professors of Palaeontology and Peace Studies, and the former Director General of the Confederation of British Industry all talked about different aspects and they were joined by the Editors of the Lancet and British Medical Journal, and a Professor of Public Health. There were some very clear messages. None of the speakers had any doubt that climate change – a rise in average temperature and a rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels – first was real, second was due to the activities of humans and third was likely to have serious consequences for human health because of an increase in infectious diseases, heat-related diseases and malnutrition. There was also no doubt that the only solution in town was to reduce carbon emissions and that this needed to be done by concerted government and intergovernmental action. There was also agreement that currently-available technologies were able to do this. Those cited were fuel-efficient vehicles, reduced vehicle use, more nuclear energy, substitution of coal by gas for electricity generation, carbon capture and storage and more use of wind, sun, hydrogen and biomass to generate power. Used together these could stop any rise in carbon emission. The cost arguments were set out in the Stern Report published in 2006 1. The cost of failing to deal with climate change would be at least 20% of global gross domestic product (GDP) whereas it would cost only 1% of GDP to act now on global warming. There was also general agreement that the medical profession could act both personally and politically. Personal contributions included using energy-saving light bulbs, reducing travel by car, using public transport and cycling or walking to work. Politically the medical profession should be at the forefront of lobbying for effective government action on climate change and to this end the Climate and Health Council has been established (www.climateandhealth.org). The obvious analogy here is the leading role of the profession against cigarette smoking. Studies who suggested a moratorium on further coal-fired power stations and urged individuals to influence those who are elected to Governments. This address was delivered by videolink so Dr Hanson did not have to increase his carbon footprint by flying to London. (The possibility of reducing the NHS carbon footprint by practising more medicine this way was …