Advances in medical treatments and technologies have been nothing short of miraculous over the past decades.

And it is impossible to calculate the human importance of each new treatment and procedure, including the implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) heart devices, which have saved thousands of lives.

That is not in question.

But, as with all medical traetments, patients must be given the full facts and allowed to make informed decisions.

They must be told the risks and the possible complications so they can decide for themselves if the procedure is right for them.

Roger Birchall’s story featured in today’s Oxford Mail is a very upsetting one, but his family’s hard work will mean patients can make informed choices in the future.

We welcome the response from the Oxford University Hospital Trust and new measures it has put in place.

Doctors, surgeons, nurses and medical researchers do so much to improve lives.

But trust between patients and our health service should never be compromised.