I just wanted to be a doctor: We need to be more than "just" doctors

doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7565.446

BMJ 2006;333:446 (26 August), doi:10.1136/bmj.333.7565.446

Letter

I just wanted to be a doctor

We need to be more than "just" doctors

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

EDITOR—Hunt articulates the feelings of many doctors ondiscovering that the effective practice of modern medicine requiresa range of skills beyond the provision of direct clinical care.¹Her slightly delayed entry into medicine may explain why thisissue is troubling her now, rather than later in her career:certainly these are sentiments I hear more commonly from consultantcolleagues than juniors.

However, to imagine that good medical practice is confined tothe delivery of care to one patient at a time is to overlookthe role of doctors in organising healthcare systems and deliveryin the wider context. It is disappointing that Hunt's appraiserchose to frame the process in terms of her trust's participationin the clinical negligence scheme, since most junior doctorsvalue well conducted appraisals. Nevertheless, cheaper insurancepremiums for hospitals mean more money to spend on health care,and also indicate that organisations . . . [Full text of this article]

Jonathan R Benger, consultant in emergency medicine

United Bristol Healthcare Trust Jonathan.Benger@ubht.nhs.uk