Andrew Potter on not taking the swine flu vaccine
13 Nov, 09 | by julietwalker
Increasing numbers of clinical staff at the hospital where I work declined invitations to be vaccinated against pandemic “swine” influenza. I think this is a worrying trend for both public health reasons and for the doctor’s integrity as a medical practitioner. There have also been reports in the popular press of doctors refusing the jab. As more NHS doctors object to what they perceive as an untried and untested vaccination, does the NHS as an employer, or the GMC as a regulatory authority have any recourse against these doctors? The GMC’s good medical practice publication, paragraph 77 clearly states: “You should protect your patients, your colleagues and yourself by being immunised against common serious communicable diseases where vaccines are available” [1]. With the current situation of a new vaccination against an infectious disease which likely has yet to bear its full impact, we need improved definition of the terms “common” and “serious” to support doctors whom decide not to be vaccinated. I also believe the NHS, either locally or nationally, should provide guidance on the matter.
Reference:
1. General Medical Council (2006) Good Medical Practice
Andrew Potter is a GP trainee having previously worked as a registrar in cardiology, gastroenterology, and acute medicine. I currently work in obstetrics and gynaecology at Bedford Hospital.
“Bring sac close to peritoneum, drain its purulent liquid content, and have the shrunken pouch squeezed through this tiny hole.” Such was the senior surgeon’s instruction at the conclusion of a gallbladder removal operation. 
Some things never seem to change. I spent much of the ten years during which I ran the Skin Care Campaign (SCC) explaining patiently to the government and to pharmacists that, where topical treatments for skin diseases are concerned, generic substitution can present serious problems. That was not only the view of the 35 patient organisations the SCC represents; it was strongly supported by dermatology nurse specialists, GPSIs in dermatology and consultant dermatologists. 
The night before last, one of the other doctors admitted a 22 year old male who had ingested concentrated paraquat whilst intoxicated. At the time of admission he was 24 hours post ingestion and his presenting complaint was pain in his mouth and throat due to chemical burns. The night shift doctor handed over the case, along with a wealth of information regarding paraquat accumulated from internet searching and ringing the poisons helpline in the United States. The outlook from all this data was bleak, especially given our lack of facilities to deal with multi-organ failure. I have no experience with paraquat poisoning, but from published case reviews it appears that paraquat ingestion anywhere in the world is a one-way road. 
I’m just back from Washington DC, where we held the first US meeting of 
The budget of 
I am happy and exhausted at the end of the first week of the new Triage system and Emergency Room at the Children’s Hospital. Around 80 children present to the hospital each day and Triage nurses now briefly assess them and rush those with Emergency signs to the new 3-bedded ER. There they are assessed and given emergency treatment by a team of specially-trained nurses and the Medical Officer on call. 