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triple helix: autumn 2001
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Supporting Refugee Doctors - Real Opportunities for Christians
It's all too easy to write off asylum seekers as scroungers or economic opportunists. Among the asylum seekers who find themselves in Britain are highly qualified professionals, many of whom possess experience and skills that could be put to good use. Included among them are a surprisingly large...
Where is your treasure? - Why debt relief is not enough
Critics of the Jubilee 2000 campaign opined that remission of international debt would give the green light for corrupt governments to fritter away the proceeds. This has not proved to be true. There is powerful evidence that debt cancellation is already directly helping the poor. In Uganda debt...
The Crisis in General Practice
Most readers of this journal will be aware that UK general practice is in crisis. The recent BMA ballot confirmed that 86% of responding GP principals were in favour of submitting undated resignations from their NHS contracts next spring, unless the government agrees to negotiate on a new contract...
No Care, No Hope?
A daughter is killed by her father, who receives a suspended sentence for manslaughter. One of the many issues raised by this sad episode is the adequacy of care provided by the mental health services. What are the 'facts' of this case, in so much as we know them from the media? Sarah Lawson...
Ageism in the NHS
Many common ways of dealing with old people are unacceptable and inadequate, contends Mark Cheesman Few of us think of ourselves as old. Inside, we feel much as we did 10-20 years ago, or even longer back. We don't thank people for reminding us that we're ageing, and whilst jokes about the...
Men of Issachar -The 2001 Rendle Short Lecture
Andrew Fergusson's challenge from the 2001 CMF National Conference 'Men of Issachar, who understood the times and knew what Israel should do'.[1] We first hear of Issachar in Genesis 30:18 as the fifth son of Leah, the older of Laban's two daughters. She 'had weak eyes' [2] and although Jacob...
Refreshment with a difference
David Clegg reflects on the Overseas Update course with a difference - Do it anyway - Why go? - 2002 course details - Most were tired. Some had left young children with relatives or friends. A number were dependent on others to provide a temporary home base whilst in the UK, and many had a...
The Spectre of Bristol
The NHS is still failing to learn from things that go wrong. Could it happen again? Michael Keighley senses a feeling of déjà vu Bristol's catalogue of failure - Never before has the medical profession been under such close scrutiny. The media love it, surgeons (or maybe surgeons and...
Juniors' Struggles
Life as a junior doctor can be difficult. We have all seen Christian friends and colleagues struggle, even abandon their career, or worse, their faith. Is there anything we can do? In our first years, frequent job moves keep us in a state of change. Long hours and stressful conditions, difficult...
God's Coincidences
In 1971, I was medical leader of the 'War on Want' team flown by the RAF to help with the cholera epidemic among Bangladeshi refugees. Working with Mother Teresa, next to Calcutta airport, several things happened. My setting-up duties ended and I was about to leave to visit South India where I had...
Eutychus
Two-faced on tobacco - Antismoking groups and doctors' leaders have attacked the government for delaying the introduction of a ban on tobacco advertising, after the Tobacco Bill was excluded from the Queen's speech, thereby meaning no legislation for at least 18 months ( BMJ 2001; 322:1564, 30...
On dying well - an updated contribution to the euthanasia debate (Book Review)
I often get the feeling that the Christian church thinks that being 20 years behind the times is a virtue. It was therefore a pleasant surprise to find that this book by a Church of England working party was not a new publication, but rather an updated edition originally published in 1975. There...
Bring Your Medicine If You Like (Book Review)
This very readable book is about the dusty deserty northern parts of Uganda and Kenya in the 1960's and 70's. This is where the author, a doctor, spent 22 years of his working life with Liza who travelled out with him; where they were married and brought up their four children. The backdrop is that...
Born to Serve (Book Review)
Have you heard of ECHO and OYSTER? I have certainly come to understand them better through reading this account of the work of Dr James Burton and his wife Peggy, a nurse. Their call to medical work as dedicated Christians led to a demanding spell starting up a new mission hospital in the then...
Palliative Care Ethics: a companion for all specialties (Book Review)
This book is written by a Consultant in Palliative Medicine and a Professor of Moral Philosophy. The first edition was well received, judging by two reprints since publication in 1996, and three new chapters have been added to this edition. It is remarkable that it does not include a discussion of...
Letters
We have had a large post-bag this issue and accordingly most letters have been abridged. More than just a job - Frank Garlick, a former missionary doctor from Brisbane, Australia, offers insights on vocation from his experience As I read Professor David Short's article ( Triple Helix 2001;...
RevieWWWs with Cyberdoc
Missionary Doctors - I wrote this piece with the terrible news of planes being flown into American buildings echoing in my ears. My thoughts were going out to by our American doctor colleagues with the horrors they no doubt were facing. I heard early reports of imminent and significant retaliation...
Spiritual Skills
'Spiritual Skills for Health Care Workers' - the title of the leaflet lying on the nurse's desk caught my eye. A free one-day seminar promised 'to explore the practical application of spiritual skills in a working environment'. Opening the leaflet I learnt that 'spiritual skills...are concerned...