Saturday 12 March 2011

A matter of principle

The Witch Doctor draws our attention to this article showing that the government are acquiring a number of GPs to promote the concept of commissioning.

That government should do this should come as no surprise, it is inevitable. Given that there are some 40,000 GPs in Britain it should also come as no surprise that they should be able to find some supporters.

Those GPs that genuinely believe that commissioning is a good idea are entitled to their opinion. Their arguments should be listened to, even though they might be a minority voice. If they support the idea as a point of principle then that should be respected.

I suspect however that a proportion of those speaking out in favour are not motivated by principle. There will be those whose principles are guided by the prospect of self advancement and self enrichment, as I have pointed out before. Medicine as a whole seems to me to have more than it’s fair share of such mercenary individuals. 

I am reminded of a quote from Groucho Marx
“These are my principles. If you don’t like them I have others.”

1 comment:

  1. It did surprise me at first when the announcements came out, about the GPs they interviewed being in support. This is completely at variance with what is happening here in Dullsville.

    Lukewarm acquiescence is the only positivity I have seen. Most are against.

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