Monday
Nov212011
Thanks to the BMA, doctors can no longer be trusted to tell the truth
Monday, November 21, 2011 at 8:11 Doctors, eh?
Brian Monteith, former spokesman for Forest in Scotland, former member of the Scottish Parliament and now a columnist for the Scotsman, has today written a searing indictment of the British Medical Association. It sums up what many of us feel about this and other anti-tobacco organisations (notably ASH).
Full article: BMA’s ‘facts’ prove to be all smoke and mirrors
Reader Comments (7)
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"Doctors have been stunned by the increase in male Scots smokers – up by one per cent to 26 per cent last year. The percentage of women who smoke remained unchanged at 25 per cent."
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/health-news/2011/11/20/shock-figures-reveal-how-cigarette-ban-has-not-slowed-toll-on-deprived-estates-86908-23575578/
Great stuff Dave - keep 'em coming! I believe that is also the case in NI isn't it?
As for doctors - I admit we do need them, but there are "Doctors" and doctors. I personally do not have a doctor, which most people class as silly or wrong, but I just do not trust them. I haven't been to see a doctor since I was in my teens, and even then I seem to recal it being about a medical I needed for an insrance company.
In general, people tend to believe what their doctor says, hook - line and sinker. I would mind so much if they admitted now and then that "this is in my opinion, etc., etc" But they don't - they tell you "this is a fact, and you have to believe it because I said it, and I am a Doctor"
They are just human being for Christ sake, and are no different from your local car mechanic who does his best to diagnose what is wrong with your vehicle, but as we all know, is often wrong.
I have had many arguments with my wife about what her doctor tells her, and last night had an "argument" with my son, who had phoned to tell me about an elderly relation (in her 80s) who has been given 2 days to live. "Down to smoking" he said, "same as her husband, both of them smoked"
Needless to say this put my back up, which was probably the meaning of the excercise (he is like me in that way!) But what I am saying is that he, like so many other people seem to be;lieve more in what the medical proffesion tells them, than they do in actually stopping and thinking about things and working it out in common sense terms. These people are both in their late 80s, they are going to die, as we all will, of something sooner or later. They also ate meat pies, and drank beer for God's sake - maybe someone should lay the blame of their deaths on that doorstep as well?
What next?
I love comments 2 & 3 underneath. Nothing whatsoever to do with the point of the column. Well thought through arguments in response they are not. Typical, can't answer so attack the author.
They really don't like it up 'em. Very vulnerable people these antis.
My piece made The Commentator, strap line: "Be in no doubt that we live in troubling times for liberty and scientific integrity - smoking bans constitute the most sinister assault on private property rights outside of an authoritarian regime." Comments invited.
http://www.thecommentator.com/article/654/the_british_medical_association_s_wrong_diagnosis
Excellent articles by both Brian Monteith and Dave A. Did you 'discover' "The Commentator", Dave? Wonderful find - hopefully the missing link!
@Joyce
Raheem the editor is a mate of mine. Another sound classical liberal/centre-right type.
@ Dave A.
Re the increase in smoking in Scotland....
No wonder 'Big Tobacco' is keeping its head down. What wonderful publicity ASH ET AL are providing! After all, if the enjoyment of tobacco is so wicked that it must be banned, it must be VERY enjoyable.