I was going to compose a rant about dentists who can strike a patient
off their NHS list for not turning up for an appointment when we can
only do the same after amassing sheaves of evidence in triplicate that
our relationship has irretrievably broken down and who the hell
negotiated our contract anyway.
But on reading Richard Smith's sage advice about not indulging in self
pity in this week's BMJ I changed my mind. Instead I would like to
remind you of his comment the previous week. "Some doctors are
scientists, but most are not... Most doctors follow familiar patterns
and rules, often improvising around those rules. In their methods of
working they are more like jazz musicians than scientists." As someone
who does a little improvising himself to cover that awkward gap just
before the service begins, I found his analogy particularly apt. I think
it will slightly alter the way I see myself as a doctor.
As you can see, Uncle Graham, I do read the BMJ. Please can I be
revalidated now? ;-)
--
Michael Leuty
Nottingham, UK
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