The BMJ takes reason's last step
BMJ 2001; 323 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.323.7327.0 (Published 22 December 2001) Cite this as: BMJ 2001;323:0
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Thankyou BMJ for your Christmas dipping of a metaphorical big toe
into the muddy metaphysical waters of reality. It is high time these
issues are seriously discussed as not only I believe will it shed light
onto the root of our patients and societies challenges, it may also help
us to be more aware of and find real solutions to current issues including
the current recruitment crisis as well as the general disillusionment
within the medical profession. Without confronting our physical reality in
the context of our totality renders our physical existence meaningless. It
is not what we know, nor is it who we know. It is all about how we feel.
This underscores everything. Western medicine is very good at certain
things and science in general explains some of the hows, yet both do not
respond to the real question.
All my love for the year 2002 and our new era of self-enlightenment.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Hound of Baskerville phenomenon
The incident dates back some years when I was the Warden of the
resident doctors hostel at SP Medical College,Bikaner,India.One of the
resident doctors died following the fall of the ceiling fan on her
bed.From the site of the accident it was evident the fan did not directly
hit or injure her.At autopsy, no injury was detected, and no other cause
of death was detected.Apparently she had seen the fan coming down on her
and had died due to sudden cardiac arrest from the fear, the "Hound of
Baskerville effect".Apparently there is such a thing, after all.
Rakesh Bhargava
Competing interests: No competing interests