Communicating risk: We as doctors are not alone

doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7428.1403

BMJ 2003;327:1403 (13 December), doi:10.1136/bmj.327.7428.1403

Letter

Communicating risk

We as doctors are not alone

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

EDITOR—Risk is a crucial part of current medical practice,as clarified in the editorials by Edwards, Godolphin, and Thornton.^1-3It is a subject that we all have to deal with day to day, andknowing that others are grappling with these difficult ideasis refreshing. The debate, however, needs to be widened further.

As medical practitioners we are not alone in facing uncertaintyand risk. Everyone involved in decision making faces the sameproblem. Whether it is the risk posed by an Iraqi regime headedby Saddam Hussein, the likelihood of a large meteorite strikingthe earth, or the chances of an Intercity 125 crashing, everyoneis confronted with uncertainty and risk.

The debate on risk needs to be taken beyond the confines ofmedical journals and into the general media, the House of Commons,and school classrooms. Only when the concepts of risk and uncertaintybecome familiar . . . [Full text of this article]

Thomas W V Daniels, respiratory specialist registrar

Southampton General Hospital, Southampton SO16 6YD t.daniels@virgin.net