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Views And Reviews Acute Perspective

David Oliver: Is abuse towards doctors in government roles unfair?

BMJ 2020; 369 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m1796 (Published 06 May 2020) Cite this as: BMJ 2020;369:m1796

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Rapid Response:

Re: David Oliver: Is abuse towards doctors in government roles unfair?

Dear Editor

Taking up one of Dr Oliver’s points:

Doctors in part medical, part managerial posts have always straddled an uncomfortable saddle.

The bottom line is: your medical responsibility is supreme.

You do not knuckle under the “superior manager”.

You may choose to resign.

You may choose to be made redundant.

You may choose to be kicked out. In the interests of the NHS.

True, the National Health Service chokes freedom of expression. You have to choose EXIT sometimes.

The Civil Service always wants conformity.

The doctors in the civil service can decide to stand for independence even if it leads to EXIT.

“We have always been guided by scientific advice,” say the ministers.

Let us have clarity. Clear as distilled water. Not clear as mud. Have the ministers always been guided by the Chief Medical Officer?

Competing interests: Ever free, aware of the cost

14 May 2020
JK Anand
Retired doctor
Troublesome priest
Peterborough, England