The avalanche danger level was the second highest possible this week in most parts of the Alps. But the warning did not help: six alpinists died in avalanches within 24 hours in Austria. Although the scientific knowledge about the pathophysiology of being buried under an avalanche has improved, and the number of hospitals with technical equipment […]
Category: Editors at large
Domhnall MacAuley: Lasting memories
Memory is short. I learned this early when, as a junior doctor, my consultant retired. He was a legend, irreplaceable, the backbone of the hospital. But, it takes less than a year to be forgotten. You soon become that nameless old buffer at the cocktail party- remembered only by former colleagues and a few senior […]
Tony Delamothe asks: Are public schools a blight on British society?
Compared with 7% of the population who went to private school (in the UK known as “public” schools, for historical reasons), 50% of doctors did, with the proportion not budging these past 20 years. Does it matter? Couldn’t private school attendance just be a marker for academic ability, with potential medical students needing high grades to […]
Domhnall MacAuley on armchair winter sports
The Olympics are imminent. Not 2012, but the Winter Olympics in Vancouver opening in less than three weeks. Coming from a country where rare snowfalls are wet, soggy and turn almost immediately to slush, winter sport usually means rugby in the rain. Much to the amusement of my family, however, I’m a TV snow sports […]
Sally Carter and Birte Twisselmann: Imagining synaesthesia
Mixing of the senses Synaesthesia, this “mixing of the senses,” is a difficult thing to describe. I have read David Eagleman’s editorial and an anonymous patient’s and psychiatrist Steve Logdail’s patient’s journey article. I see that having synaesthesia may add colour and depth your writing, if writing is your thing (see below for synaesthesia as […]
Tony Delamothe: Chekhov and the doctors
Chekhov published his first short story as a 20 year old medical student. Over the next 24 years, he published nearly 600 more, along with a string of plays including The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard. He worked as a doctor until he could support himself from his writing, finally abandoning […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Achievements of academic primary care in the last decade
What do you think were the achievements of academic primary care/ general practice in the last decade? We discussed this recently by email in a BMJ advisory group of primary care academics; the dialogue was fascinating. […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Apres Ski and A&E
Heading for the slopes? Sunshine, blue skies and an exhilarating holiday. Cant wait! You don’t need any gloomy doom sayer spoiling your excitement. But, as you board your flight, look around at your fellow passengers- mostly fairly well off, youngish and middle aged, setting off for a well earned winter break. Not as fit as […]
Peter Lapsley: Out with the QOF!
Why was I not surprised last week to hear that talks between the BMA’s GP Committee and the government had broken down when the BMA had asked for GP targets to be relaxed, to free up time to deliver the extended the swine flu vaccination programme to children between the ages of 6 months and […]
Domhnall MacAuley on Thierry Henry’s rehabilitation
Thierry Henry’s rehabilitation is on track. He kept a low profile in Barca’s win on Tuesday night but was back in the spotlight nevertheless. Gasps of relief across the world of marketing could even be heard in football stadiums. Forget the indignation in Ireland about the hand ball incident. We are a small country with […]