Percy Hughes & Roberts Solicitors

The recent events involving Fabrice Muamba have highlighted the frailties of human life.  Whilst watching the events of that evening unfold it was clearly evident that whilst Fabrice’s life was in the balance he was in a place whereby he received some of the best medical attention he could have expected. 

In the crowd that evening was a Consultant Cardiologist at London Chest Hospital, Dr Andrew Deaner. What happened from that point was nothing short of miraculous.  Whilst on the pitch Fabrice Muamba received two defibrillator shocks on the pitch, one in the players' tunnel and a further 12 in the ambulance on the way to hospital but none worked.  When he arrived at the London Chest Hospital it had been 48 minutes since his collapse on the pitch, there was then an additional 30 minutes spent by staff in the Chest Hospital working on Fabrice Muamba.  Then the unthinkable happened, after being “in effect dead” for 78 minutes a response was received and Fabrice Muamba had been resuscitated. 

He received some of the best medical care imaginable and whilst it is considered that his levels of fitness had a part to play in his recovery it is no doubt a result of the extraordinary care he received. 

I hope this serves as a lesson to medical professionals up and down the country.  Whilst we are all relieved that Fabrice Muamba was resuscitated and shows good signs of recovery it should not become an incident that is considered as a miracle and a one off.  Any person who suffers a cardiac arrest should be afforded the same efforts and desire to resuscitate as was given to Fabrice Muamba. 

Anyone who is in the same position as Fabrice Muamba and is not afforded the same level of care and attention will be a victim of the social divide that exists in the UK.  When a person’s life is on the line then status in society should be the last thought on anyone’s mind.  Life is so precious, Fabrice is an example that even when all the facts point to the fact that the person is dead, there may still be life and that person should be given every opportunity to breath again. 

I for one hope this incident becomes a catalyst for many more miracles and that medical staff the world over realise that in reality it’s not over until they decide to give up fighting for that person’s life and maybe 78 minutes should become the minimum time afforded in the fight for that person’s life?