May

The Canadian Forces Health Services museum in Vancouver now has its own web site: www.vancouver-mmm.ca. 

Any of your readers who wish to get an overview of this museum or wish to know its location and how to access it can now simply consult this web site to learn more about this repository of medical history and artifacts.

—A.S. French
Curator

It is curious and disappointing that the BCMA has chosen not to pursue audio/video conferencing for the June 2008 AGM. This decision is curious given that attendance at the AGM is likely to be limited by the Board’s decision to move the meeting to Prince George. 

It is disappointing that the Board is not doing its best to facilitate maximum involvement of the membership this year given that the last AGM ended prematurely. You will recall that the directors, in an ill-advised move, prematurely exited the 2007 meeting, leaving it without a quorum. 

Through the Council of Public Affairs and Communication (CPAC), the BCMA Board did review the options for video conferencing the upcoming AGM that will be held in Prince George. Video conferencing a meeting of many hours presents some technical challenges. No supplier could commit to being able to maintain a video link for the duration of the meeting. So, for purely technical reasons video conferencing is not a viable alternative.

But the larger issue CPAC and the Board considered relates to singling out Vancouver as a place that needs special treatment as it relates to the AGM. 

Drs Krausz and Marsh [BCMJ 2008;50(1):15] refer to the benefits of methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) while attemp­ting to make their argument for stimulant substitution. It took 20 to 30 years of clinical evaluation before MMT was accepted as therapy. 

In the January/February issue of BCMJ, an interesting case of self-induced mercury poisoning was described.[1] Dr Albrecht outlined elegantly the assistance of the BC Poison Control Centre in the confirmation of the diagnosis and the institution of chelating therapy. He subsequently used the case as a teaching tool for medical students.