The treatment of patients
Editor - I would like to correct some of Mr
Connolly's misunderstandings of my article
published in April. 1 2 firstly, at no point do I
imply that medical students are a burden to
staff or patients. In fact, I stated that most
patients are "happy or proud to help
students." Neither did I urge students to give
in to their baser urges and stop examining
patients.
I actually emphasised that examinations
were best learnt on the wards under
supervision. The point raised was in the
context of the multiple examinations which
can occur in the run up to finals, not when
two or three students attached to an acute
ward are seeing those patients as part of that
ward's routine.
Mr Connolly's own argument about
consent is rather confused. he states that "it
is not necessary for patients to give consent
to be seen by students," then contradicts
himself by stating that as medical students,
"we are required to obtain their consent." I
would also like to correct the fallacy that
there is an "onus" on patients to see
students. There is no onus nor, as Mr
Connolly states, no obligation. This is indeed
stated in the patient's charter, although most
patients have not read it. There should be no
pressure brought to bear on patients beyond
asking their permission and explaining the
mutual benefit.
This brings me to the final point in Mr
Connolly's letter. Don't be so pessimistic
about human nature. patients are able to follow the logical steps between barring medical students from clinical training and a
future shortage of properly trained doctors.
Even the ones who may object to being
examined do recognise that we are a necessary evil. however, it is necessary that
students wake up to the reality that patients
are human beings and not training aids.
patients are not inexhaustible resources. I
am glad to see that Mr Connolly has grasped
this point.
Lisa Gardiner, final year medical student, Queen's University, Belfast
Email: lisa-gardiner@hotmail.com
studentBMJ 2001;09:171-216 June ISSN 0966-6494
- Connolly D. The treatment of patients. StudentBMJ 2001;9:161. (May.)
- Gardiner L. feeding frenzy. studentBMJ 2001:9:118. (April.)
