Author’s note: This is a short article that would have appeared in the News in Brief section of the Brains Trust. It has a pop at one of my perennial bugbears: doctors and especially the BMA
Doctors today reacted angrily to the Government’s “continued undermining of our reputations and good standing within the community”. The rebuttal came from BMA Chairman Dr Ian Bogle in a stinging rebuke to the Government. “The public recognise the heartfelt devotion and selfless work carried out by doctors in conditions of squalor and third-world deprivation.” he thundered from the conference, held at the end of a 7 day fact finding mission to Mustique sponsored by Pharmaceutical giant ‘Drugs-U-Like’. “For many years now, we doctors have treated our patients with utter contempt and patronised anyone who questioned us. We paid ourselves huge salaries from the public purse and supplemented our short hours with sloppy work for wretched, desperate but rich private patients. And no one has complained! And if they did, we ensured that they had to report to a self-interested investigation body that makes sure that they never get heard. Suddenly, the Government has suggested that this has to change. They are talking about introducing ‘private’ companies and competition which will completely undermine the NHS ethic of free healthcare for all.” claimed Dr. Bogle as he prepared to leave to attend his private clinic for extraordinarily rich hypochondriacs. He concluded hastily by suggesting that the Government take two Aspirin and call him in the morning.
Sex and Drugs and Growing Old 