November

Thank you [Dr Day] for your editorial in the July/August BCMJ (2004;46:270-271). The present thinking on the health service is on a par with medieval thinking on religious dogma and witches. Any deviation resulting in burning, and politicians are naturally scared to speak out.

Your comments make sense.

—John Fairley, MB
Comox

We would like to thank the BC Medical Journal for the opportunity to respond to some of the issues raised by Dr Bishop in Counterpoint September 2004 [BCMJ 2004;46:349, 353-354].

References

In the October 2004 issue of BCMJ, the BC Centre for Disease Control reported marked elevation of blood mercury in two preschool aged children of Asian ethnicity with unusually high fish consumption.[1] They recommended physicians providing care for young children and women of childbearing age to inquire as to the frequency and species of fish consumed, and to measure blood mercury in individuals at risk of elevated blood mercury.

References

Over the last decade in endocrine practice I have had the opportunity to speak to many individuals and groups of individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D). I sometimes ask: “What messages were you given about diabetes when you were first diagnosed?” The responses often speak of the burden of life with T1D: “I was told I would become blind if I couldn’t control my sugars.” “I was told I should never have children.” “I was pretty sure I’d be dead by the time I was 50.” These responses also reveal the negativism of our profession toward this condition.

A few weeks ago I was in my vet’s office and while waiting for my turn (my dog’s, I should say) I picked up a copy of Reader’s Digest, April 2004—haven’t read it in years. The front cover caught my eye with an article titled “What Your Doctor Wants to Tell You.” Of course I read it.

A market research company conducted a nationwide survey asking Canadian GPs what they would really like to say to their patients. As examples: