Rapid Responses to:
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Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
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![[Read Rapid Response]](/icons/misc/sectionDOWN.gif)
Illuminated Environmental Gloom
- Eleanore J Massey, SW17 0QT (12 June 2006)
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The climate -- the global warming
- Mark S. Kern (12 June 2006)
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Two trees
- Alfred P J Lake (15 June 2006)
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Physician's: The World Police?
- Jonathan K West (15 June 2006)
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Transport Information for Medical Meetings
- Paul F Docherty (17 November 2006)
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Eleanore J Massey, ITU SHO St George's Hospital, London,, SW17 0QT
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Dear Sir, In these days of environmental doom and gloom few people could be oblivious to the effects of their own actions, not even doctors. One cannot tune into any form of media, including specialist, professional journals, without out planet's fate vividly illustrated. Why, then, do the majority of us working within hospitals continue to ignore the facts lit up before us? Who has worked a night shift at a hospital and seen lights, except those within patient rooms, turned out after the working day? Clinics, departments, corridors and even offices seem to be exempt from common sense. Sadly it is not just us; high street businesses, from small independent boutiques to large international companies, leave their lights on long after trading hours, illuminating their carelessness and our apathy. This cannot make good sense, neither ethically, financially nor environmentally. Couldn't we as doctors make a small contribution to reducing the NHS carbon footprint by trying just that bit harder to turn out the lights? Yours faithfully, Dr Eleanore Massey. Competing interests: None declared |
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Mark S. Kern, other 80302
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I think it is too late. Things can be slowed down, but not stopped all together. Capitalism--which I don't comdemn--is very distructive to the environment. I live in Boulder, Colorado, I bike a lot, because my heart has problems . . . heart electrics. My heart rhythm isn't 100% correct. Last January, which was very mild; my bike wheels picked up thorns--in January. This is the 40th parallel, about 1000 miles from the ocean. I've been here since '97, and I never saw anything like that before. These thorns where sweep aside (street sweepers), they were black, and made me put on thornproof tubes for a while. I came upon them in two places; they were on the bike lane. I had flats because of them for a few days. I think the global warming can be slowed, but I don't think it can be stopped. Emergency procedures will have to be instituted to slow the global warming down. People will panic, but it will be too late. Competing interests: None declared |
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Alfred P J Lake, Consultant in Anaesthesia and Pain Management Glan Clwyd Hospital, LL18 5UJ.
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The NHS is, indeed, a huge consumer of resources and, rather than address the consequences, concentrates on politically driven targets and the ‘financial bottom line’ with little hope of reducing energy consumption by the target of 15% on 2000 by 2010. The emphasis on disposability and ‘single use’ due to a culture of hyper caution with risk aversion is responsible to a significant degree. In Wales we have two particular issues not shared with the rest of the NHS which will contribute to a worse position. First, in respect of single use items we remain obsessed by the possibility of vCJD transmission in connection with tonsillectomy. Secondly, after the Welsh Language Act of 1993 there has been political momentum to entrench bilingualism in all areas of public service even when not required which results in the (in most cases) unnecessary exact duplication of a massive amount of paperwork; using TWO TREES for their pulp when a little more than one would suffice. Competing interests: None declared |
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Jonathan K West, Medical Student Atlanta, GA 30324
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It's rather absurd to suggest that physicians should take on the role of combating global climate change. No where in my formal education have I learned anything about the basis for global warming or any theoretical mechanisms to help stop or prevent this climate change. The role of the physician is ever-expanding and vast in its current state. Correct, climate change may affect global health in the future; correct, a move towards preventitive medicine is cost-effective and makes a lot of sense. But, this is a stretch; combating climate change is way beyond the scope of our field; it should be left to the experts and the population will make their decisions based on the research of meteorologists and climatologists, not medical doctors. Physicians are intelligent group of people with a wealth of knowledge, but let's not pretend we carry a society on our shoulders; others are much more equipped in this arena. Then again, maybe we should enlist in the military to combat tyrants who torture innocent civilians (it seems bad for public health, too), but something tells me we'll leave this to the experts as well. Competing interests: None declared |
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Paul F Docherty, GP Partner Scott Road Medical Centre, Selby , UK YO8 4BL
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I agree with Anna Coote. There are many things that health services and individuals working in them can do about climate change. One immediate change could be in the transport information given to people attending medical meetings and conferences of all kinds. Currently car parking is top of the agenda in most transport information sent out, indeed it is often the sole issue in transport information. Information about public transport and local cycling routes should be the priority information in most cases with car directions and parking information lowest in the information hierarchy. There are many other changes needed but this one could and should start now. Competing interests: None declared |
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