Julian Tudor Hart hopes that children will learn that success is not measured simply by the introduction of new experiments or methods in medical science. Hopefully one of the most important lessons they learn will be not to kow tow to authority, to question those in influencial positions, to use critical arguments in a way which tries not to antagonise, to respect others without being deferential and to speak out before it becomes more difficult to do so. Some of the responses to the article reveal real problems with a medical culture which in parts has sacrificed its morality/conscience, to say nothing of its reputation as advocate of medical practice. Students need to actually practise these skills rather than simply read about such things as the Milgram experiments because challenging those with potential negative influence over one's life will never be easy.

Across the same page BMJ on-line, Penny Camplin highlights some of the issues in her blog - 'Thoughts on a Medical Culture 4'.

Competing interests: None declared