Student BMJ December 1997 Vol 5 Editorials 442 Human rights and medical education 444 Medical students and alcohol 445 Teaching medical students in general practice: respecting patients' rights News 446 Universities combat deaths from meningitis Canadian doctor calls for more education on abortion Complementary medicine should be integrated into the NHS Fetuses cannot feel pain before 26 weeks Alcohol, not drugs causes most problems at nightclubs BMA wants licensing of cannabis to be changed Education 449 Keeping patients' secrets: ethics, confidentality and record keeping 451 You should know, you're a medic: Why can't all students be vaccinated against meningitis? 453 Picture Quiz 454 Net.philes 455 Personal paper: Africa in the 21st century: can despair be turned to hope? 458 ABC of mental health: Addiction and dependence - II: Alcohol 461 How to read a paper: The Medline database Papers 465 Can students learn clinical method in general practice? A randomised crossover trial based on objective structured clinical examinations 469 Occurrence of renal scars in children after their first referral for urinary tract infection Life 471 You are not alone 472 Students caught in the crossfire 474 German doctors in Britain 475 Soapbox: deaf people have to struggle with the prejudices of the hearing 476 The not-so-secret diary of a medical student 476 A blind medical student 477 So, why do you want to be a doctor? 478 Out There Letters 479 Why being thin is not beautiful First aid cert may help get you into medical school The medical curriculum Students could benefit from Dearing's proposals Concerns about advance directives Abortion debate rages on Shortened medical course for dentists Soundings 481 Crisis, what crisis? 481 Flatmates Art & Reviews 482 So You Want To Be A Brain Surgeon? A Medical Careers Guide Personal view 483 Ketamine and Kalashnikovs Minerva 484 Editor's choice In times of peace, stories of war and human rights atrocities can seem far removed from our world. Jennifer Leaning says we have to learn that universal human rights begin at home (p 442). Whether they are patients we see on a ward round, or the friends we see every day, we must recognise every person as an individual with equal rights to justice, opportunity, and dignity. Respecting the rights of others also means keeping their secrets, say Kerridge and Lowe (p 449). The time not to keep quiet is when you recognise someone needs your support, like the medical student who describes his experience of being dependent on alcohol (p 471). It can be difficult to know the best way to help without interfering, but as Jonathan Chick says (p 444) - don't be put off, we can do most good by letting people know that we care. Knowing that the rest of the medical community cared was important to Vickco Gluncic (p 472) a medical student caught up in the Croatian war. So often, we can learn something from adversity, and Vickco's experiences taught him to appreciate the value of peace and having friends. Melanie Easter is also an inspiration. Born blind, she is determined to qualify as a doctor (p 476). The studentBMJ will be back in February 1998 as we do not produce a January issue (see p 478).