Brain drain and health professionals

doi:10.1136/bmj.325.7357.219

BMJ 2002;325:219 ( 27 July )

Letters

Brain drain and health professionals

Is state ownership of health professionals' intellect being proposed?

Brain drain disseminates skill and advances science

Scientists can promote research relevant to their countries after emigrating

Relocation is better term than brain drain

Developed countries must say no to trade in medical staff

Is state ownership of health professionals' intellect being proposed?

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

EDITOR $---$ In their editorial on the migration of medical professionals Pang et al suggest that "Just as intellectual propertyrights need to be discussed by developed and developing countriestogether, so also should the preservation of the intellectualproperty of a nation, embodied in its health professionals, beaddressed by international organisations."¹

Does this mean that the state or some international organisation has a financial claim on a person's intellect? It is onething to require public service in exchange for education as longas both parties agree beforehand. It is quite another to extortservice or money from people who have paid for their own education;this type of action would be justified only at a time of nationalcalamity, such as a worldwar.

Because we so value liberty, most Americans would find this view utterly preposterous. Hopefully many British people willaswell.

David I Stein, medical director.
Milwaukee Pain Treatment Services, Wauwatosa, WI 53226, USA info@milwaukeepain.com