Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Observations Out of Hours

The secret lives of doctors

BMJ 2008; 336 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39570.465266.59 (Published 08 May 2008) Cite this as: BMJ 2008;336:1044

Rapid Response:

Missing the point

Chris Wilkinson misses the point. I (and others) are not saying there is no role or benefit for life outside medicine. Rather we take offence at the suggestion that we became doctors because we were good for nothing else.

A life outside medicine or outside interests does not have to extend to writing books or painting pictures. Reading books and watching films is equally valid - 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' and 'Wit' are two that come to mind - I doubt very much that there is a doctor who doesn't do a little of either.

Maybe playing with your children, talking with your partner, or engaging in debate with a friend do not count either?

Competing interests: None declared

Competing interests: No competing interests

13 May 2008
David Menzies
Spr Emergency Medicine
Dublin, Ireland