Little Green Men and Doctors on Strike

The British Muddical Journal is at it again. In the 20 July 2024 edition we find a headline, ‘Royal College launches physicians’ green toolkit’.

I don’t know about you, but this conjures up in my mind an image of a metal box, coloured green, containing spanners, screwdrivers, etc. that I might use to do odd jobs around the house. One can, of course, talk of launching a ship, but if you were so unwise as to launch a toolkit, it would immediately sink.

But our poor old copyrighter for The British Medical Journal (BMJ) – all right, I’ll use the proper name – now causes more confusion when he explains that ‘The Royal College of Physicians has published a “green physician toolkit” to help doctors play their part in tackling the climate crisis.’

I see. It’s not the toolkit that’s green – it’s the physicians!

What’s in the toolkit anyway? It contains the suggestions (paraphrased) that ‘doctors should reduce unnecessary prescribing, reduce blood testing where clinically appropriate, generate less waste, and limit the environmental impact of travel.’ Talk about stating the obvious. But why only reduce unnecessary prescribing rather than stopping it altogether?

Further confusion is sown by the reported comments of the College’s Academic Vice-President, no less, who said, ‘The toolkit would support physicians with “small steps” that can make a difference.’ Another image in my mind’s eye: physicians tottering with small steps who need to be supported in case they fall over.

It’s not my aim to poke fun at the BMJ but to point out that with a little thought and care it’s not difficult to write clearly and succinctly. For a start, instead of the overworked green toolkit, the headline could simply say: ‘Royal College publishes advice on protecting environment.’

Doctors should never strike
On the other hand, the BMJ, being the official organ of the British Medical Association (BMA), does have a case to answer in its support and encouragement for doctors to go on strike! As a BMA member I was so disgusted by this stance that I wrote, by email and letter, to the Council chair, Professor Philip Banfield, as follows:

Dear Professor Banfield,

Are we doctors or dockers?

In April this year I wrote to you by email but have not received the favour of a personal reply, hence this letter.

I am shocked and disgusted that you, as chair of the BMA council, should support and encourage doctors to strike. It makes me ashamed of my profession and to be a member of the BMA.

Doctors should never strike. It is unethical and dishonourable. Inevitably, patients will be harmed and some may even die as a result of what you cynically call industrial action. In effect, you’re holding a gun to the government’s head. So much for obeying the GMC injunction: ‘You must make the care of patients your first concern.’

Junior doctors are not exactly poor, and they knew what they were letting themselves in for when they signed up.

I am well aware of the crisis in UK healthcare, but striking is not the way to deal with it. As chair of the BMA Council, you ought to negotiate harder or, as a last resort, resign and let someone more competent take over the task.

Incidentally, please tell me how much the BMA has spent on the strikers’ orange woolly hats, hi-vis vests, placards, etc. I object to part of my subscription being used in this way (if this is the case). Also, is there a strike fund for doctors who deliberately put themselves out of work to demonstrate in the streets? If so, where does the money come from?

The only reason I have not yet resigned from the BMA is in the hope of having more influence from inside than outside the organisation.

I think you should call off all strike action immediately and stop holding the government and the public to ransom.

I shall look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Gabriel Symonds

And Professor Banfield’s reply? Silence.

Text © Gabriel Symonds

Picture credit: Michaël Meyer on Pexels