After months of deadlock between the Government and the British Medical Association (BMA), a new deal is on the table for consultants in England that could unlock the long-running dispute over doctors' pay. The previous deadlocks escalated during September and October as consultants and juniors undertook coordinated strike action - the...
In my fourth article I discussed how the coming of 'home medical mission' to London in the 1870s intersected with the remarkable Dr George Saunders and his first retirement from military medical service. His energy and passion led him to the fledgling London Medical Mission in 1871; from there he...
The first article in this series traced the remarkable birth of the Christian Medical Association (CMA) in 1853-4. It also outlined the amazing and timely transformation that God wrought in the life of Dr Golding Bird, enabling him to be the key person in launching the CMA.[1] Despite providing much...
Caring for the sick has been a feature of Christianity ever since its inception. [1] Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan to show that his disciples should care selflessly for those in need, whoever they were. [2] Communities have always looked after their own, but Jesus' unique contribution...
Do not say, 'Why were the old days better than these?' For it is not wise to ask such questions. (Ecclesiastes 7:10) Times are bad. Children no longer obey their parents, and everyone is writing a book. (Cicero, c43BC) Digging into the archives has become something of a passion for me. It...
The World Medical Association (WMA) is close to the end of a lengthy revision process of its International Code of Medical Ethics (ICoME). Originating in 1949 as a companion to its Declaration of Geneva, the ICoME has undergone various revisions. [1] Concern arose in 2021 when the draft revision included the...
In my last article, [1] I outlined the birth of the Christian Medical Association in 1854, which led to the Medical Prayer Union in 1874. These associations of Christian doctors contained many who were great supporters of medical missionary work. But how and when did medical mission begin? This article...
The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: 'Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.' (Joshua 10:6) During the night Paul had a vision of...
CMF was founded in 1949, and 2024 will be its 75th anniversary. However, its roots go back much further, and there is plenty to learn from the people and organisations that came before it. In the mid-19th century, Charles Dickens was at the height of his career, and Queen Victoria was...
In recent months there has been continual pressure to legalise assisted suicide all around the British Isles. In Westminster, Baroness Meacher's bill had its second reading in October, with an excellent seven-hour debate; it is unlikely to progress beyond Committee stage. However, an amendment by Lord Forsyth to the Government's...