Published 24 November 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b5022
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b5022

Views & Reviews

From the Frontline

Comrades in arms

Des Spence, general practitioner, Glasgow

destwo@yahoo.co.uk

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

We weren’t totally convinced that the action was necessary or even that it would work—we cursed this interventionist, US style of attack. The standard issue equipment, the multi-vials and the syringes, were substandard and flimsy, and the syringes had too narrow a needle. I had decided to use my own equipment. But just like every practice across the county we obeyed our orders, rounded up suspects, and went on the vaccination offensive.

We called up the reservists, pulled on our work uniforms, and marched in on successive Saturdays. Reception staff tried to keep the peace in the waiting room—we wanted the process to be open, fair, and free, with those most in need being vaccinated first. The doctors instructed our young female healthcare assistants in how to make up the vaccines. Mission accomplished, we were worn out, but a long forgotten feeling came over us: camaraderie.

Ours, however, is a . . . [Full text of this article]


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to StumbleUpon StumbleUpon   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Re: Humanitarianism Intervention is never humane?
Adam Di Chiara
bmj.com, 21 Dec 2009 [Full text]
Access jobs at BMJ Careers
Whats new online at Student BMJ