Intolerable working conditions of junior doctors must be abolished
Editor - I applaud any attempt to make doctors more humane and imaginative, as mentioned by Macnaughton in her editorial.1 I doubt, however, that this will be achieved by learning philosophy, art, and literature, as suggested by Macnaughton, until the intolerable working conditions of junior doctors are abolished. I further doubt that, when doctors are treating patients, the past activities of Socrates and Shakespeare will be in their foremost thoughts. The fact remains that strict protocols, especially these days, and the wishes of consultants govern medicine - so there is little scope for imagination and need for venturing off the roads of treatment flow diagrams.
Seau-Tak Cheung, final year medical student, Dundee University Medical School
Email: s.t.cheung@dundee.ac.uk
studentBMJ 2000;08:89-130 April ISSN 0966-6494
- Macnaughton J, Baum M, Mackay G. New developments in the arts and health. studentBMJ 2000;8:2.3. (February.)
