2002

The recent June and July/August 2002 whiplash injury articles in the [BCMJ 2002;44(5):236-263 and 2002;44(6):296-321] interested me as I spent some 30 years treating MVA musculoligamentous neck sprains[1] as one would other sprains, and researching this common problem.

Why does whiplash injury incidence vary so much worldwide and why is it so high here in BC?[2]

Dr Radanov is to be commended in taking a stance on purported brain damage occurring as a result of whiplash ( 2002;44(6):303-306). I would like to take this opportunity to add some further comments.

I am writing to comment on Dr Brian Dixon-Warren’s request, which appeared in the June 2002 issue [BCMJ 2002;44(5):234], asking for feedback on the brochure entitled “Complementary and Alternative Therapies.” Dr Dixon-Warren asked for feedback to be sent to the Alternative Therapies and Allied Health Committee. I am writing to the Journal because I feel this publication addresses broader issues than just complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and issues of interest to the BCMA membership as a whole.

I am probably an old fogey and given to ranting on occasion, but something has happened to the practice of medicine that makes me reluctant to admit that I am a doctor to those who do not already know. I have been out of clinical practice for a few years and so I have been insulated from the increasing difficulties that colleagues face in trying to practise medicine. It was hard enough a few years ago to cope with ever-increasing overhead and static fees, cutbacks, bed closures, and ever-expanding waiting lists.

The numbers associated with depression are staggering: 1.4 million people in Canada afflicted at any given time; over $3 billion in direct medical costs; 40 000 person-years lost from work and over $1 billion in economic costs; the second leading cause of long-term disability among workers, number one among white-collar workers; the fourth leading cause of global burden of disease, projected to be the second leading cause by 2020.[1,2]