Doctors losing faith in the BMA
Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at 11:35 Last week, when I was on the BBC Radio Wales phone-in, I was struck by a contribution from Brendan, a retired GP.
Brendan (a smoker) was extremely critical of the British Medical Association and its extreme anti-tobacco agenda. The gist of what he was saying was that the BMA is not only wrong to call for a ban on smoking in all private vehicles, but the union's behaviour could seriously damage the doctor-patient relationship.
I supported Brendan's common sense attitude and said that, in my experience, he was far more representative of most GPs than the organisation that claims to represent them.
I have never been lectured by my GP (I've had several over the years), even though I am significantly overweight and enjoy more than the "recommended" number of units of alcohol each week. On the rare occasion a GP (or dentist) asks me what I do for a living ("I run a smokers' lobby group"), they invariably smile, pat me on the head and tell me to run along. (OK, I made the last bit up, but it's never been an issue.)
Anyway, Brendan isn't the only doctor who has queried the BMA in the past week. An oncologist called Anne took part in another programme I was on and she too took issue with them. (Update: Frank Davis has the transcript here. Scroll down to near the bottom.)
PS. Patrick Hayes, who writes for Spiked, The Free Society and the Huffington Post speaks for many of us, I think, when he asks: After the dodgy smoking in cars stat, how can the BMA be trusted?.
Reader Comments (7)
Fraid I gave up on "Behind the Smokescreen" at the beginning of para. 2.
The BMA 'blunder' presents an opportunity to scientists to speak out against junk science. I hope that many will.
Simon I have been able to get hold of the BMA paper by Dr. Geoffrey Wong where the 11x quote comes from. The eleven times figure is in the artificial environment of no windows or vents are open and the air conditioning turned off. When all four windows are down or even just the drivers window open the PM2.5 levels do not reach a "dangerous" level.
http://www.otru.org/pdf/special/special_mar_2008.pdf
@ Dave A.
We see a lot of these weaselly statements like 'does not reach dangerous levels', don't we? Reminds me of the Canadian school playground ban on footballs - 'people could receive an injury from balls which nearly hit them'.
'Does not reach dangerous levels' is the sort of statement that strongly suggests studies commissioned with the end result already decided.
Yes the 22 page report has disappeared. Pathetic.
I transcribed most of the Radio 5 programme on which the lady oncologist spoke. What the consultant oncologist had to say can be found towards the end of this transcription.
Thanks, Frank. Very useful.
Incidentally, I've heard anecdotally that the BMA was 'taken over' by doctors advocating lifestyle medicine back in the 1990s. I've no evidence for this, but if it's true I wouldn't be at all surprised if many practising doctors now find that the BMA no longer speaks for them.