Anaesthesia on Air

In this episode, Dr Eoin Dore interviews Dr Todd Leckie following his talk at Anaesthesia 2026 on marathon runners. They discuss the physiological extremes that marathon runners undergo discussing issues they can experience such as hyperthermia and the best methods to cool them down. 

In this episode of our new ethics and law podcast series, host Paul McConnell is joined by Sevim Ahmet, Legal Director at Fieldfisher and member of the RCoA Ethics Committee, to unpack one of the most important and often misunderstood aspects of clinical practice: consent. Together, they explore how the legal principles of landmark cases such as Montgomery and McCulloch apply in real-world healthcare settings, discussing patient autonomy, material risk, trainee involvement, capacity, and the realities of obtaining informed consent under time pressure. Through practical examples and insights from the courtroom, this engaging conversation offers clinicians valuable guidance on navigating complex consent discussions while highlighting the crucial role of clear communication and robust documentation.

In the first episode of this new ethics and law podcast series, Dr Paul McConnell is joined by healthcare law expert Dr Anna Nelson to explore one of the most fundamental principles in healthcare: consent.Together, they discuss why consent is far more than a signed form, examining the legal, ethical, and practical issues that shape informed decision-making. From landmark cases such as Montgomery to the challenges of capacity, communication, coercion, and risk disclosure, this episode offers a thought-provoking introduction to patient-centred care and the evolving legal landscape of consent.An essential listen for anyone interested in ethics, law, anaesthesia, intensive care, and modern clinical practice.

The next episode from our colleagues at TopMedTalk features Andy Cumpstey interviewing Louise Savic, consultant anaesthetist and NIHR doctoral researcher at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, UK, who specialises in drug allergy and peri-operative anaphylaxis, and Tom Abbott, clinical senior lecturer in anaesthesia and peri-operative medicine at Queen Mary University of London, UK, and a consultant anaesthetist whose research uses clinical epidemiology and trials to improve surgical outcomes and reduce peri-operative complications.The discussion highlights the vast disparity between true drug allergies and mislabelling, emphasizing that around 90-95% of penicillin allergy labels are incorrect. Dr. Savic shares her journey in drug allergy research, focusing on the perioperative setting, while Dr. Abbott discusses the linkage between antimicrobial prescribing and resistance.The talk covers results from the Sapphire Project, revealing the high incidence of mislabelled drug allergies and their associated increased postoperative risks. The episode also explores potential strategies for ‘de-labelling’ patients, the role of multidisciplinary collaboration, and the next steps in research and practice change.This was recorded at the RCoA's Anaesthesia Research 2025 event and was first released on TopMedTalk in February 2026.

The next episode from our colleagues at TopMedTalk features Andy Cumpstey interviewing James Bowness, Consultant Anaesthetist, at University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and an Honorary Associate Professor of Anaesthesia at University College London. James and Andy discuss the definition and scope of AI, how it can be applied to healthcare, why Apple's approach to technology product development doesn't work in healthcare, and how clinicians can meaningfully get involved. James advocates for better links between industry and academia or clinical practitioners, and sees the opportunities for a so-called 'second mover advantage', to learn from successes and failures elsewhere before adopting them in anaesthesia and perioperative care. James shares the exciting work he's done with a national demand-signalling project for AI in anaesthesia.Andy spoke to James at the RCoA's Anaesthesia Research 2025 event in an episode first released in February 2026.Useful Links: Shaping the future of AI in anaesthesia - demand-signalling project Dr James Bowness staff page (UCLH) TopMedTalk episode page Anaesthesia Research 2026 Recorded November 2025, released on TopMedTalk February 2026.