Once again the RCGP’s Annual conference last week in Liverpool produced a wealth of stimulating and topical debates – from the ethics of whether doctors should take a lead in commissioning (why do we always feel the need to “take the lead?”), to what constitutes sustainable general practice. The groups considering the latter issue, chaired […]
Category: Climate change
Richard Smith: Climate change, torturers, Nero, and me
“We know what we need to do to avoid severe climate change. We know how to get it done. We have the technology, and we can afford it. But we don’t have the political will.” That’s the message I remember most clearly from the BMJ’s conference on climate change, and sadly as a human being […]
David Pencheon: Climate change and health – let’s get professional
I am still proud to be a doctor. This used to be because I looked up to inspirational mentors, tutors, and role models. I still do, although my inspiration is increasingly derived from younger doctors and medical students (a cohort effect). We have a young inspirational medical student working with us currently doing research in his […]
Should it be compulsory for adult cyclists to wear helmets?
Last week the bmj.com poll asked “Should it be compulsory for adult cyclists to wear helmets?” 68% of respondents voted no, out of a total 1,439 votes cast. The question triggered an interesting debate. Below are a selection of the comments posted in response to the poll. Sven Felsby: The idea of forcing cyclists to […]
David Pencheon: Solidarity? When mass (in)action is bad.
When good people do too little, bad things happen. Or: beware death by omission as much as death by commission. Prizes avaliable if you know the heritage of the original quotations. […]
David Pencheon: Future-proof hospitals? Go straight for future-proof systems…
Chris Ham’s article in last week’s Observer newspaper (“Politicians have ducked hard decisions on the NHS for far too long” Sunday 19 June 2011), and a news story in this week’s BMJ (BMJ 2011;342:d3921), claim that up to 20 hospitals, around 10% of the total in England, may not be financially sustainable. This is highly probable […]