Further to Brian Monteith's article in the Scotsman on Monday, Brian received this response from a former GP:
I fully appreciate the content of your article: the use of unchecked and erroneous data by those apparently representing all doctors is unforgivable; indeed a public retraction for the use of this would not be out of order. However, the principle behind the thinking is reasonable to many people. Tobacco smoke in a confined space will be more hazardous to all exposed to it than in the open air, where the concentration is much diluted. Just use your common sense. YOU may choose to expose yourself to your own cigar smoke, but would others have the same choice?
As a former GP, I find the generalization that one cannot trust doctors is particularly worrying. It may sell papers, but it does terrible damage to the doctor-patient relationship which HAS to be based on real trust. I have no idea whether you have had personal experience of significant ill-health or not, but I do know from the feedback which my patients gave me, that trust was very important to supporting them through difficult times.
I don't expect to see any apology for your damaging piece in the Scotsman as I'm sure you stand by every word. Whilst the BMA's pronouncement is based on erroneous data, the sentiment behind the health prevention message is sound. Perhaps you should think longer and harder about the effect YOUR message has on real people's health care.
There are two conclusions to be drawn from this. One, the end justifies the means. The erroneous data may be "unforgivable" but the underlying health message is "sound" so let's not worry about a few facts and figures.
Two, let's shoot the messenger. If anyone is to blame for damaging the doctor-patient relationship, I suggest it's the British Medical Association and no-one else.
If the media is to be criticised it's for accepting at face value the word of the BMA and fellow travellers like ASH. In future, perhaps, reporters, especially health correspondents, will think twice before they publish garbage statistics and other junk science.
If that were to happen some good will come out of all this. I'm not holding my breath, though.