BMJ 1995;310:661 (11 March)

Letters

Self written obituaries should be preferred

EDITOR,--I appreciate the problems posed by the pressure on space for obituaries and would like to make the following suggestions.1 "Do it yourself" obituaries should take precedence over other kinds. After all, doctors will write their own only if there is a reasonable chance of its getting printed. For many this would represent their first and only publication in the BMJ, enabling them to fulfil a lifetime's ambition.

Obituaries that contain nasty, scurrilous, outrageous, and possibly libellous comments should take precedence over ones extolling well known virtues and accomplishments. People would much prefer to read about aspects of the dead person that were hitherto unsuspected. It must be remembered that obituaries are written for the entertainment of the living.

Preference should be given to those who were cremated. This shows a concern for conservation that merits encouragement. The form of burial is often an arbitrary decision, and the increased possibility . . . [Full text of this article]


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Relevant Article

Growing pressure on BMJ's obituaries
Liz Crossan and Richard Smith
BMJ 1995 310: 5-6. [Extract] [Full Text]

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