This is an edited 2nd edition of a message I posted here in March 1996
(and published by 'Doctor' magazine). I didn't think that 2 years later
I'll be picking up the call again, only this time I am serious. Deadly
serious.
It serves to remind us of what the call to arms setting up 'De-FI' is
about:
Promises and smoothness come cheap. However, the promises are empty
because they (the politicians) can't deliver. But promise they do and
schmoozing is the name of the game. We have been bought before for 45
million (the ooh deal). Now we contemplate nothing!
It is easy to feel cosy and comfortable and pretend that everything is
going to work out fine. It is easy to be comforted and silenced by the
odd crumb when the reality is that neither the politicians nor our
leadership can deliver what they do not have.
Radicalism is much harder. Radicalism involves the words 'forego',
'hardship' and 'steadfast'.
Radicalism means choosing to be out of pocket rather than be led by the
nose.
Radicalism also means fired imagination and inspired thinking.
In other words, I am not going to take any more crap from anyone!
It is the radicalism of doctors who, over the centuries, put their
lives on the line for a principle.
We have given our present to the managers in power suits, (soon to be
replaced by managers in power white coats) and now we are in danger of
giving away our destiny for nothing.
Giving away our most fundamental quality has set doctor against doctor,
fund-holder against non-fundholder, commissioning GP against non-whatever
it is. Yet, there are those who simply want to get on with the job of
doctoring without greying the remaining hairs on their heads.
Do we not realise that our power lies in being doctors?
The sickly PR machine has managed to sell us ideas cooked up by
discredited doctors, has-been politicians and faceless civil servants.
Remember when we only answered to our conscience and our deep sense of
service at the bed side?
Remember when when all we had to offer a patient at times was the hand
placed gently and reassuringly on the suffering brow?
Remember when our best assets were humility, humour and honour?
Remember the time? Do you? Huh?!
Ahmad
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Dr Ahmad Risk
http://www.cybermedic.org
Chairman British Healthcare Internet Association <http://www.bhia.org>
Director Internet Healthcare Coalition - USA <http://www.ihc.net>
Home: +44 1273 724866/748198
Work: +44(1737)240022 Fax: +44 1737 244660
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