It’s worrying that the quest to evaluate the evidence underpinning major public health decisions feels like a game of chess—how do you try to anticipate the next move of your opponent and how might they bide their time to stay in the game. And so the next instalment of what can only be dubbed the […]
Category: Editors at large
Edward Davies: Hysteria. There, I said it.
Oh, behave. I got some grief for saying on a previous blog that some of the criticism of health reform was a bit “hysterical.” I felt a little chastened. I now feel utterly justified. I just did a Google search for “NHS Arab Spring” which gave me almost 1,000,000 results. I saw the phrase used […]
Domhnall MacAuley: On the rocks
The captain made a mistake. We don’t know why; misjudgement, show boating, foolishness. After hitting the rocks, he seemed to ignore the consequences, delaying action, almost pretending it didn’t happen, and leaving people fend for themselves. Master of a recently built vessel of such scale, he was clearly at the top of his profession having […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Who stole health
Who stole health. I used to think it was something to do with medicine. As a straight laced, card carrying, GMC registered proper doctor, perhaps I should relax, chill, and discover my inner calm. The health industry has less and less to do with medicine— everyone wants a piece of the action. The high street […]
BMJ survey on research misconduct
We conducted an electronic survey of our UK-based submitting authors and reviewers about research misconduct in the UK. We invited 9,036 to take part and 2,782 responded (31%) within a week. We asked them if they had witnessed, or had firsthand knowledge of, UK-based scientists or doctors inappropriately adjusting, excluding, altering or fabricating data during […]
Domhnall MacAuley: No more sad/happy movies
No more sad/happy movies for me. I hate the thought that someone might see me blubbering in the cinema. Alpha males shouldn’t cry. Tonight it was The Well Digger’s Daughter. I will not spoil it for you by telling you what happens. Lovely scenery, good acting, nice story. But, I had to pretend I didn’t […]
Stephen Ginn: smartphone health apps for the future
I learnt some interesting facts about mobile phones the other day. For instance, there are 59 countries where mobile phones outnumber people. This refers to mobile phones actually in use, rather than forgotten ones in drawers, under sofas, or in the glove compartment of your car. Worldwide there are six trillion texts sent a day, […]
Neil Chanchlani: Why composite patients just won’t do
Whenever I read a story or novel about doctor and patient interactions, I’m often bewildered. Primarily out of interest, but also because I feel like I’ve been short changed. How come I’ve never come in contact with a pregnant evangelical Christian who requests her obstetrician to cut her fallopian tubes during a C section so […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Leaving Christmas behind
Dark, quiet, and desolate. At 7.45 am on the mornings after Christmas, the streets look sad and neglected. A few Christmas lights blink unconvincingly. No traffic, no pedestrians, no kids going to school, and no radio except the news. But, the surgery lights are on, cars parked outside, shutters open, patients waiting… […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Chicago. General practice, and all that Jazz
Chicago. A compelling show. An intriguing narrative based on real events. Posters advertising the musical, with its ever changing cast, greet me like an old friend on the escalators of London’s underground as I travel to the BMJ office. My first visit to the city recently was equally enthralling. The modern glass skyscrapers, amazing art institute, […]