From David Cox
I applaud Jamie Whyte’s dedication to clear thinking (4 September, p 40), but I think his analysis of the British Medical Association (BMA) is incomplete.
Doctors do know a lot about the effects of fatty food and possibly very little about taxation. However, we expect more of doctors than the neutral provision of information. Almost the most important thing about being a doctor is a strong commitment to improving health.
Most of us would be very worried about doctors who lacked this commitment: this is demonstrated by the fact that in general we disapprove of doctors who are in it only for the money, and we respect organisations like Médecins Sans Frontières. It makes perfect sense for the BMA to make pronouncements about health policy. I would just encourage it to employ some economists as well, if it doesn’t do so already.
Ovingham, South Australia
