November

For over 3 decades, Doctors of BC has understood the importance of being able to communicate with the public, doctors, government, and others on matters of disease prevention and issues of public health in ways that transcend any economic benefit for physicians.

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The average number of deaths per day in British Columbia is 110, ranging from 90 to 130 most days. On 29 June 2021, 380 people died across the province [Figure]. There were 1630 deaths in the 8 days from 25 June to 2 July, about 740 more than would be expected in a normal summer.

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References

Dr Matthew Chow

There’s an important task I’ve been doing every day during this pandemic, one that is so important to me I will often stay up long after my family is asleep to make sure it’s done right. So what has been occupying so much of my time as president? I have been sharing my gratitude.

We inhabit a world where immediately accessible mass communication is almost an expected part of life. The medium is certainly confirmed to be the message, and it’s clear that whoever controls the medium also controls the message.

I wrote an editorial in 2012 [BCMJ;54:61] discussing the use of abbreviations in medical writing, essentially pleading with scientific writers to cease and desist. In the 9 long years since my editorial’s publication, the use of abbreviations has not improved and actually seems to be worsening, which is why I am revisiting this topic. My last editorial was quite cheeky, as I used more and more abbreviations as I went along, which perhaps diminished the message.