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But you seem to have missed my point, Rowley, which Jeremy was perceptive enough to note. I didn't mind at all the way they quoted me at the start of the article, it was their interpretation and contextualisation of my position at the end that really irritated me, and I quote, "Although Adrian Fogarty would have us believe that doctor and wellbeing are two words that cannot exist in the same sentence, everyone else I spoke to felt that they had taken positive steps to improve their own wellbeing." They were essentially implying that I was some sort of isolated minority, as if doctors' wellbeing was not a major issue in this country. But I really resented being compared with a GP tutor, an ophthalmologist and a "politician". And the occupational physician, I happen to know, is a part-time freelance "expert" who "keeps" a penthouse apartment overlooking Hyde Park! Finally the Graeme Catto "advice" simply came across as patronising. Although "crossing threads", it seems reasonable to quote DMG at this point who recently stated, "It seems inevitable that there is now going to be head on confrontation with the DoH about the Consultants' Contract. The Medical Staff particularly the consultants will be "Brought into Line". The FBU have been seen off and over the next few weeks there will be a lot of nasty spin emanating from the centre about the fat cat Consultants." Under the circumstances I think my letter was timely, given the overall political context of the debate surrounding reward for consultants' commitment. So I don't regret it in any way. And as for your argument that a later letter makes things worse, I completely disagree. The BMJ obviously liked it and were keen to get it in print, and I was very happy to edit it for them. Further, I have had many positive responses from readers around the globe! Finally, the elementary error you mention from the original article (where I was called a cardiac consultant) is immaterial, although the later letter helped to correct this too! Regards Adrian Fogarty ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rowley Cottingham" Subject: Re: Who'se tetchy then!!! > "Doctors' wellbeing? Are you kidding? I don't so much `maintain' my own wellbeing as continually > firefight from one crisis to the next." Adrian Fogarty, a cardiac consultant from London, is pessimistic > about how doctors maintain their wellbeing. He continues: "When our specialty recently questioned > consultants about stress, it missed the very people it was attempting to capture. We were too > stressed to find time to fill the damn form out." > > Rule 1. Expect journalists to report what you say if you said it. > > Rule 2. Never take part then whinge. If you don't like the way you are going to be portrayed then you > must say so before it hits print. A later letter simply makes things worse. > > If you did not say what is reported then that is a different matter. It is quite clear that you did not ask > for the right to check and veto what they said as there is an elementary error in the fourth sentence. > > Best wishes, > > Rowley Cottingham > > [log in to unmask] > http://www.emergencyunit.com