Public health conferencePrimary care trusts present opportunity for public healthChairman welcomes broad brush policyNHS must take any charge of racism seriouslyClinical governance has opportunitiesCremation form should be abolishedThe conference …
BMJ 1999; 318 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.318.7199.1703 (Published 19 June 1999) Cite this as: BMJ 1999;318:1703
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BMA's conference season is continuing with regular discussions about
racism in the NHS.At the public health conference(1),one doctor has said
that the race issue "had been hyped up by the media" following the inquiry
into the murder of Stephen Lawrence.Conversely,it can be said that open
discussion of racism was a somewhat taboo-subject before the media took on
the coverage of this brutal murder.Reportedly(1),the same doctor has
highlighted two other families(one white) who have been treated the "same
way" by the police;that may be so,but it could not be a proper
justification to submerge the wider revelations which emanated following
Stephen's murder.
Whilst it may be difficult change the ingrained personal beliefs of
some,there is mounting evidence of racism,in particular,within the
professional sector.Recently,two lawyers successfully argued race claims
against the Crown Prosecution Service(CPS).Further, allegations of race
bias had been made against the Lord Chancellor,and the Attorney General's
Department.A female lawyer also won a race claim against the Inland
Revenue,and most recently,an employment tribunal declared that a japanese
bank was guilty of racially discriminating against one of its highly
qualified employees.Those are just some of the high-profile cases that
were reported recently,and perhaps,just the tip of the iceberg.
Closer to home,the GMC and the BMA are not enirely innocent of race
bias either,and indeed,formal complaints have already been considered by
tribunals against both organisations.So any attempt to belittle the
positive issues that Stephen Lawrence's death has brought,would be plainly
wrong.Doctors should show greater commitment to justice when it comes to
race issues,whether in the NHS or elsewhere.That is clearly the way
forward,but whether the BMA could make some contribution to that,remains
to be seen.
REFERENCES
(1)Public health conference(Medicopolitical digest).BMJ 1999;318:1703
-4.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Irrespective of the medicolegal arguments,the proposed abolition of
the cremation form C(1)is a right move in the interest of the wider
public.Naturally,some doctors will frown at such change,as it would be
seen as a loss of the fee income.I have vivid memories of two senior
doctors who literally quarrelled over cremation fees,and their early
morning visits to hospital to grab the "rich pickings".It is also hard to
forget how some doctors preferred visiting certain undertakers,because
cash was on offer rather than a cheque.Of course,doctors are entitled such
fees,and the profession has curteously followed tradition.
Generally the bereaved hardly have any emotional stamina left to
argue about the funeral expenses and fees at a time of severe personal
distress and sadness.No doubt,doctors will readily acknowledge that.But is
there any real moral or professional justification which merits a
mandatory fee for filling a cremation form,at a time when one's
professional skills are least needed?.By charging a fee on death,are we
not discharging our moral obligation to the patient even before human life
is turned to ashes,or is that simply another outdated view?.Death or
cremation should not induce financial reward for the doctor or any
professional carer of the deceased.It is time,doctors took a more serious
look at this,and canvass for the abolition of mandatory cremation
fees,before it becomes an embarrassing public debate.
REFERENCES
(1)Public health conference(Cremation form should be abolished).BMJ
1999;318:1704
Competing interests: No competing interests
Cremation Form fees should only go if the forms go
That was a silly idea.
It may be time to review the requirements for certificates before
cremating a body is permitted, but while the certificates are required the
doctors who complete them are entitled to expect payment.
Many of us would accept passing on the work to lawyers but it seems
unlikely the fees would be less.
Competing interest: Crematorium Referee
Competing interests: No competing interests