The medical profession today is under the kind of pressure that is not exerted on other professions. Doctors in general are pilloried in the press for making mistakes, despite the fact that contrary to popular beleif they are at the end human beings, condemned for not picking up on the most esoteric of diagnoses, and are the victims of uncalled for litigation in an era where genuine unintentional mistakes, negligence and premeditated harm are all viewed as one entity.

Furthermore they are expected to make difficult management decisions, sometimes under the most adverse of conditions, have to suffer the indignity of non-medically qualified "managers and trust executives" blocking their attempts to render service in the name of meeting "NHS targets on waiting lists", and in addition to all this, the general air of confusion now pervading the work place following the European Working Time Directive and its perceived detrimenal effect on the training of future doctors in all grades.

On a personal note, doctors have to sacrifice more of themselves and their families than members of any other profession, not just during "regular " working hours but for all their professional lives. They also have to spend vast amounts of time reading and attending courses just to keep up with the DAILY developments in all specialities. One mistake and all the years of toil can be wiped out as a career is lost, or professional ruin accomplished.

Yet, as a group doctors accept the lifestyle that they signed up to, with little complaint.

After all this it is considered "wrong" for them to be fasttracked when it comes to medical care without another patient having to suffer as a result?

In the words of the great philosopher Anon:"Give me a break!"