May

Dr Purkis’ concerns ("Please fix walk-in problem" [BCMJ 2001;43(2):71]) about the demise of general practice in White Rock are not exaggerated. Our communities of New Westminster and the Tri-Cities are witnessing a similar exit of family physicians from practice with no one to replace them.

Thank you for publishing our appeal to physicians in the January/February 2001 edition[1] and we appreciate Dr Leduc’s response[2] illustrating the main reason too many parking placards are being issued: physicians such as him are not treating these applications “with the same vigilance they apply to other important medical documents.”[3]

I would like to commend Dr Malleson for her informative and practical article[1] addressing the lack of awareness and implementation of emergency contraception among patients and physicians. Perhaps the only questionable move, however, is the choice of cover artwork by Jerry Wong, which depicts an aggressive, grimacing male Viking wielding an intrauterine device (IUD) as a sword.

The scene: British Columbia today. A cast of thousands, discussing the state of health care and medical practice in the province.

Character #1: “Doctors are overpaid crybabies. All they want is more money and more respect. They should be on salary like any public servant.”

Character #2: “My parents really sacrificed for me to go to medical school. I’m proud of where I came from and what I do, and I’m happy that I made them proud too.”

I would like to express my appreciation for all of the hard work that the BCMA has put into the recent arbitration process and hence the subsequent award recommended. I would, however, implore that this settlement be used more wisely and with the future of health care in mind.