List date(s) this work was published or aired.
23-May-11
Provide a brief synopsis of the story or stories, including any significant findings.
Documented an effort by an academic cardiology group to start-up a somewhat controversial program to obtain pacemakers that had been removed from deceased patients, clean and sterilize them, test for function, and send them to hospitals overseas to be re-implanted in other patients who may not otherwise have access to the expensive devices.
Explain types of documents, data or Internet resources used. Were FOI or public records act requests required? How did this affect the work?
Food and Drug Administration documents on medical device policy. Clinical study documents.
Explain types of human sources used.
Cardiology fellow who is running the project, and sources from FDA, the device industry and other clinicians.
Results:
N/A
Follow-up (if any). Have you run a correction or clarification on the report or has anyone come forward to challenge its accuracy? If so, please explain.
None
Advice to other journalists planning a similar story or project.
Story was initiated based on an interesting, but not well-publicized session at a cardiology clinical meeting. Look for the hidden gems at meetings that are not necessarily spotlighted by organizers