BMJ  2008;336:1340-1341 (14 June), doi:10.1136/bmj.39609.446701.59

Observations

Medicine and the Media

BMJ in "smug docs" storm

Can a media row over a BMJ editorial be blamed on newspaper journalists’ misunderstanding of statistics? Rebecca Coombes investigates

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

What was it about a recent BMJ editorial that caused a leading UK tabloid newspaper to condemn it as "outrageous" and displaying a "backwards, warped view"?

The article, inoffensively titled "Increasing diversity among clinicians," (BMJ 2008;336:1082-3; doi: 10.1136/bmj.39569.609641.80) was written by Chris McManus, professor of psychology and medical education at University College London, and Hugh Ip, editor of Student BMJ. It argued against medical degree courses which deliberately lower entrance requirements in order to attract candidates from poorer backgrounds.

The 1000 word editorial went on to question the value of the £190 000 a year scheme at King’s College London, in which 50 of the 400 places are available for pupils from state schools in poor areas of the capital, even if they get three Cs at A level. "Is it worth our while to widen participation, particularly if this risks reducing standards?" asked Ip and McManus.

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This article has been cited by other articles:

• Dimmock, P. W (2008). Methinks the professor doth protest too much. BMJ 336: 1453-1454 [Full text]  

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The professor doth protest too much, methinks

Paul W Dimmock
bmj.com, 13 Jun 2008 [Full text]

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