September

Loyal BCMJ readers appreciate that the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19 constituted a pandemic long before it was officially designated as such, and now tirelessly await confirmation of its conclusion. It is my pleasure to humbly answer their prayers with the following incontrovertible evidence, gleaned from the trenches of emergency medicine.*

Working in health care leads to a one-sided perspective of the system’s nuances and challenges. By becoming consumers in the system, some of us will experience a different side, which recently became my reality, as my wife is unwell with an uncertain future. The tendency is to ask of the heavens, “Why us?” but in truth, after watching so many patients go through similar situations, the real question is, “Why not us?”

With the death of Dr Pat McConkey on 10 June 2021, Canada said goodbye to one of the shy, quiet giants of orthopaedics. He was 76.

Heather peacefully passed away in her home in Vancouver on 4 November 2020 after having struggled with an aggressive form of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) for the past 2 years. Beauty, grace, and intelligence are words that come to mind when you think of Heather, and the dignity and kindness with which she lived will long survive her. Helping others, especially the downtrodden or animals in distress, was her passion.

With deep sadness, we announce the passing of Dr Alex Black. Alex made the unforeseen decision to end his life. Though his choice is difficult to understand, we ask you to think of him with compassion and respect.