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LETTERS: Paul Buss Healthcare professionals must be perceived as caring BMJ 2001; 323: 869b [Full text]

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Caring - Back to Basics

I C M Paterson   (12 October 2001)

Caring - Back to Basics 12 October 2001
I C M Paterson, Consultant clinical oncologist Velindre Hospital, Cardiff Send response to journal: Re: Caring - Back to Basics	Congratulations to Paul Buss for reminding us of the value of real, old-fashioned caring. However, how can doctors be perceived as 'caring' in the way he correctly defines when we are pilloried on an almost daily basis in the media and portrayed as incompetents? We have had to put up with successive governments and their Health Secretaries whose words and actions make them appear distinctly anti-doctor. As public employees we are subservient to certain demands which may not co-incide with the concept of caring that Paul Buss puts across. Oh how I yearn for a return to the traditional values of caring!