At the Broussais hospital in Paris, Father Boulogne, second transplanted from the heart in France, recalls the reasons why he volunteered this operation.
Arrival of Yannick NOAH and Laurence TIENNOT-HERMENT, president of the French association against myopathies (AFM), on the set of the telethon, in the presence of NAGUI and Sophie DAVANT . The president of the AFM announces with emotion the recent death of her son.
Reportage presenting the operation of a young child carrying congenital heart disease: a breach between two ventricles. The latter is first covered with ice in order to lower his body temperature then his blood is redirected to an artificial heart-for-my. Once the heart has stopped, the surgeon drops off a plastic prosthesis.
Different medical students give their opinions on the practice of their trade in rural areas. One student believes that human contact with patients is much better in the countryside. One of them said he was ready to settle in the countryside, but not too far from Paris. A young woman finally brings up the idea of setting up a centre with several doctors in order to avoid isolation.
Report on artificial insemination as performed in the Laboratory of Reproductive Biology at the Edouard Herriot Hospital in Lyon. Discussion of the problem of insufficient number of sperm donors. Details on the progress of sperm donation and sperm preservation technique. Interview on the choice of the code name assigned to semen. Plans of the laboratory and of spermatozoids seen under the microscope.
Cancer treatment: Immunotherapy is a promising new technique. Explanations on synthetic images and interviews with Dr David PLANCHARD, oncologist, in his office.
Following the discovery of new cases of cancer in researchers at the Pasteur Institute, we wonder why these diseases appear in laboratories whose safety conditions are extremely controlled. Commentary on images of manipulations of researchers of the Institute alternating with the interview of François JACOB, President of the Board of Directors of the Institut Pasteur, Recalling the occupational risks incurred by the Institute’s scientists.
The French medical teams are multiplying their achievements with regard to cell therapy. After the cardiac cell transplant, a team from the Henri Mondort hospital in Créteil succeeded in transplanting neurons from embryos resulting from in vitro fertilization, both for Parkinson’s patients and for another genetic condition, Huntington’s disease. Testimony of Michel RIFFAULT, who has had Parkinson’s disease for 25 years and his wife.
People living in rural areas explain how it is not easy to find a doctor near them. A doctor then points out that this phenomenon is widespread throughout France.
In Britain, the press has talked a lot about a doctor practising artificial insemination for homosexual women. An interview in French with Dr Elston GREY TURNER, secretary of the British Medical Association, who believes that the physician must first of all think of his patient’s interests. Meeting with Nikki HENRIQUES (translation off) stating that artificial insemination would be less traumatic than spending a night with a man she would never see again.
Interview with doctor Jean COHEN, obstetric gynecologist, about the birth of the first test-tube baby in Great Britain, Louise Brown. It describes the cases in which this method of procreation can be applied.
Many French people practice indoor sports where they have access to many courses, despite the high price of subscriptions. Interview with a client and a manager.
Presentation of the new experimental chemotherapy laboratory in Villejuif. The images of different researchers working in this laboratory alternate with the interview of Professor PAOLETTI, who stressed the importance of basic research in the development of treatments. He cites several technical advances such as fluorescence microscopy and finally recalls the enormous advances brought by chemotherapy.
Professor CROZEMARIE (Association de recherche contre le cancer) points out the importance of research in the face of the rapid proliferation of cancer cases.
In his office at Groote Schurr Hospital in Cape Town, Dr Chris BARNARD (English not translated), who performed the first heart transplant in the world, recounts the circumstances of this historic operation: preparation with his team, the family of the donor.
Press conference excerpt of Dr SHUMWAY: "Our patient has his whole conscience, he is in good shape, he says nothing because of the tracheotomy... We intend to practice other interventions... We will continue the programme under these clinical rather than experimental conditions. '