Medtronic expands insulin pump recall
Medtronic Australasia Pty Ltd is updating an earlier Safety Alert to a Recall to replace any MiniMed 600 series insulin pump that has a clear retainer ring. The company had previously advised users that pumps with clear retainer rings would be replaced if the ring was damaged or missing. The replacements have an updated black retainer ring designed to better withstand damage sustained by an accidental drop or bump on a hard surface. However the company is now expanding the recall to replace all clear retainer ring pumps with a black one, whether the ring is damaged or not. Insulin pumps with the updated black retainer ring design are not impacted by the recall.
Sunshine stops diabetes
Exposure to UV light in utero and infancy appears to be protective against the development of type 1 diabetes, at least in boys. Researchers in Western Australia say their data from a case control study involving 1819 children with T1D showed that risk of developing the condition was 42% lower in boys of mothers with third-trimester UVR dose in the highest quartile compared to the lowest quartile.
There was an overall significant association between higher ambient erythemal UV radiation in the third trimester of pregnancy and the first year of life, and subsequent decreased risk for type 1 diabetes in childhood among boys.
Writing in Nature Scientifc Reports, they propose that testosterone may work with UVR-induced molecules to improve beta cell development, function, and survival, by reducing oxidative stress, insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, thus slowing or preventing beta cell apoptosis in susceptible children.
RACP trainees receive legal warning on feedback reports
The RACP has warned trainees not to identify any peers or patients when submitting reports on ‘significant events’ that impacted on their medical professionalism as part of the personal reflection required for training purposes.
The Commonwealth government has ruled that legal Qualified Privilege no longer applies to Professional Qualities Reflection (PQR) activities in Australia, which means that information and documents used in the reflections may be obtained and used in medicolegal actions.
The RACP says documents created before 1 October 2021 will continue to be protected from disclosure, but it “strongly advises de-identifying the names of patients, peers, persons or organisation(s) as well as any information entered in Professional Quality Reflection” after this date.
“If a trainee personally receives a Subpoena or a court order to reveal any Quality Assurance Activity Records, the College encourages them to seek legal advice regarding whether those records must be produced,” it advises.