Why did you choose to be a paediatrician? Since my student days (and before my conversion as an SHO), I have been attracted to the medical care of children. I appreciated, and still do, the generally caring atmosphere of the paediatric wards, the variety of clinical work and the three way...
Despite pornography rarely being out of the newspapers, the media recently reported that all is not well in the airbrushed garden. The Daily Mail was alarmed that more than nine million men - almost 40 percent of the adult male population - logged onto sex websites last year. The number...
Unless a pregnant woman's circumstances fulfil one of seven grounds set out by the Abortion Act 1967, induced abortion remains an illegal act in this country. 95% of abortions are performed on Ground C,[1] which exempts a doctor from prosecution for performing an abortion (before the 24th week) if: '…continuance...
A paediatric colleague and I have become increasingly aware in our Newcastle clinics and schools of how much our young people are suffering from the consequences of sex outside marriage and the disintegration of home life. As you will read below, we believe that safe(r) sex teaching has contributed to...
Boots the chemist is to offer a screening test and treatment for the UK's most common sexually transmitted infection, chlamydia. [1] This is part of a government-backed national screening strategy [2] aimed at reducing the effects and spread of chlamydia infection which is asymptomatic in the majority of men and...
Harm reduction is the essence of a doctor's role. We attempt to reduce suffering and pain caused by sickness. Today our Government is enthusiastically pursuing 'harm reduction' by the promotion and provision of 'safe sex' and drug control programmes, which support those unwilling or seemingly unable to leave their addiction.[1]...
Two Somerset branches of the supermarket chain Tesco's are to take part in a pilot scheme in which a company pharmacist may dispense the morning-after pill (MAP) free without prescription to those under 20, but without lower age limit, after an interview. Named records are not to be kept and...
Along with most medics, I am more naturally drawn to helping the injured, especially the innocent injured, rather than fighting in a war. However, even in the UK we can all expect to be caught up in a war in our lifetime. Jesus warned us that there would be ‘wars...
My time in war zones has left me with many questions. Should I be there at all? What would Jesus have done? Here are some biblical insights that have helped me on my way. Should we give humanitarian aid? Most Christians will have few problems with the need to help with...