2001

I enjoyed JAW’s editorial (“Rejuvenated image,” BCMJ 43(7):378) which suggests that if nurses resumed the wearing of traditional uniforms they would inspire greater confidence, appreciation, and respect from patients, co-workers, administrators, and government.

Had Ray Baker chosen to write his article [More reefer madness. BCMJ 2001;43(6):315] as a letter to the editor, I might have been less annoyed regarding the content. After all, this is, purely and simply, an opinion piece. Indeed, he says as much in the second paragraph. It is unacceptable that this piece of writing appear under the banner of “Council on Health Promotion” and be signed by the author as Chair, Committee on Addiction Medicine.

I am not sure if the lack of response to the Men’s Health Committee “Call to Arms” [BCMJ 2001;43(8): 441-442] stems from the apathy of our gender or from the fact that you printed the wrong e-mail address. I suspect the former but prefer to assume the latter.

Just in case, the correct address is brich@intouch.bc.ca.

—Barry Rich, MD 
Surrey

In the summer of 1992 I was targeted for peer review on the basis of my age. It was my opinion that the real reason that I was targeted was because I had been critical of the College for their mismanagement of sexual abuse complaints against Dr James Tyhurst. They had already put a letter of admonishment on my file for expressing my views on this matter. I was, and am, sure they were simply using my age as an excuse to harass me with peer review.

At virtually the same moment, every government across Canada has apparently come to the same startling revelation: that publicly funded medical care needs private partnerships in order to survive. Doctors, medical editorialists, demographers, and some demonic, ultraconservative think-tank, right-wing types have been shouting the same message for the past decade. Until now their message has been effectively drowned out by an energetic group of Canada’s politicians, health bureaucrats, and health economists, all seemingly possessed with an uncommon facility to obfuscate.