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VIEWS & REVIEWS: Trisha Greenhalgh Party time BMJ 2009; 339: b2726 [Full text]

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Extroverts & Introverts

Hugh Mann   (9 July 2009)

Not Toeing the Party Line

Alan S Stanton   (13 July 2009)

Pure fiction

Trisha Greenhalgh   (14 July 2009)

Extroverts & Introverts 9 July 2009
Hugh Mann, Physician Eagle Rock, MO 65641 USA Send response to journal: Re: Extroverts & Introverts	As social mammals, our sociability spans a continuum from extroversion to introversion. Extroverts are outgoing and talkative, while introverts are reserved and reticent. These personality characteristics are inborn and largely unchangeable. So we should conduct an honest assessment of our personalities and structure our lives accordingly. As Polonius said in Hamlet, “To thine own self be true...” Competing interests: None declared
Not Toeing the Party Line 13 July 2009
Alan S Stanton, Consultant Community Paediatrician Solihull Care Trust 20 Union Road B91 3EF Send response to journal: Re: Not Toeing the Party Line	I had wondered about going out of my way to catch swine flu. After all it is currently mild, but might yet change its spots, it would probably be better to get it out of the way now before the NHS collapses under the weight of sick leave, and ( more cynically) I'd rather get it before I go on my summer holiday. But I've changed my mind- here's why. Every time there is a death from swine flu in the UK the media assure us that the the victim had underlying health problems- the subtext being that the rest of us don't need to worry, or even "they were on the way out anyway." However, I'm a community Paediatrician by trade. My young disabled patients have "underlying health problems," and believe me their families are worried sick. I try to reassure them that they will be amongst the priority cases for the vaccine when it becomes available and that we will do our best to contain the outbreak until then. So, whilst I'm not sure whether Prof Greenhagh's article was meant to be a purely comedy piece or if it describes a real event, I feel that hastening the spread of swine flu is selfish and irresponsible. Competing interests: None declared
Pure fiction 14 July 2009
Trisha Greenhalgh, Professor of Primary Health Care University College London Send response to journal: Re: Pure fiction	I've been to some pretty awful parties in my time but please be reassured, Gentle Reader, this one didn't happen. Competing interests: None declared