As the shock of the referendum fades away, a deathly silence has come over the remain camp. The defeated remainers have gone to ground, while the process of leaving the […]
Guest writers
Wendy Reid: Postgraduate medical training in the NHS: complex and transforming
Junior doctors’ anger and disillusionment during their recent dispute highlight the need for a new approach to ensure that they feel valued and able to work in supportive and accountable […]
John Davies: Providing medical care in rural Brazil
The Olympic Games are over, and what a wonderful two weeks they were. We finished the last events at the Olympic Stadium the day before the last day and there was a […]
Rammya Mathew on the national childhood obesity strategy—doctors need to champion public health
I was left mortified after reading about the long awaited national childhood obesity strategy. “Underwhelming” would be the single best adjective to describe it. On reading the newspaper headlines, however, […]
Christopher Martyn: Research round-up
Annals of Internal Medicine Mistreatment of residents in nursing homes Conditioned by reports in the media about mistreatment of residents in nursing homes, one leaps to the conclusion that it […]
Mary Higgins: The second victim in modern healthcare
First do no harm. It’s one of the fundamental rules, but what experienced clinician has not, at least once, done some harm? Medicine is intricate, and imperfect, with increasing number […]
Bayad Nozad: Rio, cupping, and public health risks
The Olympic Games are a major inspiration for people from all backgrounds and ages to participate in sport and lead more healthy lifestyles. We noticed great public engagement in all […]
Colin Brewer: Assisted suicide and people with intractable psychiatric illness
When a former editor of The BMJ and respected health academic like Richard Smith even tentatively argues the case for medically assisted rational suicide (MARS) to avoid the slow and […]
Michael L Millenson: Girls, queers, and patients
It’s not surprising that the word “patient” makes some activists uncomfortable. The Latin root patiens (“he who suffers”) suggests passivity, particularly when paired with doctore (“he who teaches”). Small wonder, […]
John Davies: Looking after athletes in Rio
A few days ago I was in nominal charge of the second field of play team which is situated after the finishing line of the track. The finishing line is […]