1. Hemodialysis requires the surgical insertion of a catheter into an artery and another catheter into a vein. Blood from the artery enters the dialysis machine, where it is filtered and then returned to the body through the vein. Some form of vascular access is required. Often this is accomplished by an arteriovenous fistula, that is, the surgical union of an artery and a vein, which is accessible to a catheter. ALLEN R. NISSENSON ET AL., CLINICAL DIALYSIS 26-27 (2d ed. 1990).
2. Peritoneal lavage is a diagnostic technique in which the abdomen is rinsed with sterile saline or lactated Ringer's solution. The fluid is infused through a trocar over IS to 20 minutes and then siphoned back for examination. JOHN BERNARD HENRY, CLINICAL DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT 485 (17th ed. 1984).
3. Morton M. Kurtz, M.D., Criminalization of Medical Judgment, Resolution 223, Proceedings of the American Medical Association, Interim Meeting (Dec. 1993).
4. Criminalization of Health Care Decision-Making, Resolution 202, Proceedings of the American Medical Association (June 1995).
5. CrimInal-Negligence Charge Rarely Filed Against Doctors,SEATTLE,Jan. 15, 1998,atA14(citing the AMA).