What is a good clinical teacher? Asked to host an awards ceremony, I have been thinking about it. At the BMJ we focus on “Helping doctors make better decisions” and […]
Editors at large
Readers’ editor: Pharma advertising in the BMJ
In 2011 research physician Tristan Barber responded to an editor’s choice on conflicts of interest, saying: “Reading the current BMJ and noting several letters regarding conflicts of interest, it was […]
Tessa Richards: Stop pushing propaganda to patients
There is something to be said for wearing your heart on your sleeve, and few do it to greater effect than Margaret McCartney, a GP in Glasgow. She exuded frustration […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Evidence Live day two
Gathering evidence is clear straightforward science. Right? Not if you believe the speakers at “Evidence Live.” Today’s presentations were a challenge to believers. Fraud, misconduct, non disclosure of data, and […]
Helen Jaques: Exposing junior doctors’ working hours
Back when Christian Jessen of Embarrassing Bodies fame was training as a junior doctor, he regularly worked dangerously long hours. But then in August 2009 the European Working Time Directive […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Evidence Live
Essentialist or consequentialist? Patrick Bossuyt (University of Amsterdam) introduced this concept at the “Evidence Live” conference. Thinking about diagnostic testing he suggested that, rather than focus on the nuts and […]
Readers’ editor blog: Our Indian readers, and why there’s more of them
At the beginning of 2013 bmj.com’s most accessed article in India typically received between 100 and 200 views. In three months the figure has more than doubled. In the first full […]
Domhnall MacAuley: The future of general practice….is private
What will happen in general practice…now that we have so many part time portfolio doctors, practices where the focus is on performance related income, increasing delegation to practice nurses and […]
Domhnall MacAuley: Speaking of mid Staffs…..
Who should resign this week? The blame game continues with more Mid Staffs finger pointing. As newspapers identify further unpleasant aspects of the wider tragedy, there is a risk that […]
Readers’ editor blog: Patient consent
Last year a colleague phoned a patient named in a BMJ practice article. The patient had consented to her story being published (it was about to go live), but had […]