Rapid responses are electronic comments to the editor. They enable our users
to debate issues raised in articles published on bmj.com. A rapid response
is first posted online. If you need the URL (web address) of an individual
response, simply click on the response headline and copy the URL from the
browser window. A proportion of responses will, after editing, be published
online and in the print journal as letters, which are indexed in PubMed.
Rapid responses are not indexed in PubMed and they are not journal articles.
The BMJ reserves the right to remove responses which are being
wilfully misrepresented as published articles or when it is brought to our
attention that a response spreads misinformation.
From March 2022, the word limit for rapid responses will be 600 words not
including references and author details. We will no longer post responses
that exceed this limit.
The word limit for letters selected from posted responses remains 300 words.
I read with sadness the anonymous view on the awful experiences of
the author's son at a number of mainly private detox and rehab clinics. As
the Medical Director of the MCA I am very concerned about such facilities.
The MCA is a charity committed to improving medical understanding of
alcohol related problems. We have members from all medical specialties and
it would certainly be of relevance to our work to hear about such poor
quality services - it is hard to get systematic data on these and this
leaves patients and families very vulnerable.
I would welcome any other information (both good and bad) on
experiences at similar facilities. Of course all information would be
treated in absolute confidence. Do please email me at Dominique.Florin@m-c-a.org.uk.
Private alcohol detox clinics should be regulated
I read with sadness the anonymous view on the awful experiences of
the author's son at a number of mainly private detox and rehab clinics. As
the Medical Director of the MCA I am very concerned about such facilities.
The MCA is a charity committed to improving medical understanding of
alcohol related problems. We have members from all medical specialties and
it would certainly be of relevance to our work to hear about such poor
quality services - it is hard to get systematic data on these and this
leaves patients and families very vulnerable.
I would welcome any other information (both good and bad) on
experiences at similar facilities. Of course all information would be
treated in absolute confidence. Do please email me at
Dominique.Florin@m-c-a.org.uk.
Competing interests: No competing interests