Spoilsports

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, (MERS) is a disease DZ had never heard of till today. I suspect not many other doctors have heard of it either, as it was only first described 3 years ago. There has been something of an outbreak of it lately and the WHO are taking it very seriously. Worldwide there's been a staggering 8 cases.

So, what vital advice are the WHO giving to people to help safeguard them from this condition? Apparently we are advised we MUST NOT drink camel urine!!!!

Oh fukkit, that puts a spoiler on my entire weekend!

Another man with his head up his arse

This is Dr Dan Poulter. He is medically qualified, but has spent precious little time working as a doctor, having been a politician most of his working life.

So why is DZ of the opinion that he's a twat? Could it be that he has wholeheartedly supported the Tory party in their every ill informed interference with the NHS? He has, but that's not the reason. Could it be because he's been deeply involved with every hostile act against the medical profession brought in by the government? Every deterioration in pay, pensions and  conditions he totally supported. Again, not the reason, though certainly true. Could it be because he is a supporter of the hated and stupid concept of revalidation? No, though that would be enough. Is it because he's a self aggrandising liar. No, not even that.

The reason DZ thinks this man is a worthless waste of protein is because of a recent act of supreme folly. An act which indicates he's both dangerously ignorant, and contemptuous of his own profession. What this utter fuckwit has done is to nominate this man as a candidate for chairman of the House of Commons Health Select Committee. Is he taking the piss?!

More snouts in the trough.

This is Dr Mark Porter. A suit full of bugger all, who heads up what is probably one of the least useful organisations in Britain. He's looking pretty pleased in this picture, and so he should. The BMA council, which he chairs, has just given him a 97% pay rise. Those of you who pay £440 a year subscription may wish to reflect that it takes the subscriptions of no less than 390 of you to pay his new annual salary of £171,000 pa.

Hypocrite!!

I see that that lying scumbag Hunt has been shooting off his mouth again, claiming that agency staff are "ripping off" the NHS. He claims such staff are claiming £3500 per shift. But he doesn't actually say how long the shift was. In my experience hourly agency rates for Consultants remain firmly in two figures. I suspect Hunt simply doesn't like the fact that he can't screw agency doctors & nurses like he does regular staff. So he has decided to cap agency rates. It remains to be seen at what level the cap will come in, but if it's as low as I expect I, and I suspect many others, will simply not do the work. See how the NHS functions with no-one to fill the empty slots Hunt you turd.

I notice that Hunt and the rest of the Westminster parasites are not having their pay capped.

Aniversary

While we're on the subject of weather, today, 2nd June, marks the 40th anniversary of snow falling in the month of June in England.

Whither weather, whether or not.

If you are interested in the weather, and what Brit isn't? then reading today's papers could have you wondering what is going on. The Independent is typical of most papers. Today it gives two separate reports that, spliced together, indicate torrential rain, with low temperatures, and winds of up to 70mph, followed from Wednesday by a heatwave of up to 30C. So I've had a look at the BBC weather site and put in the forecast for a number of areas, most of which are the same. Daytime temperatures from 14C to 23C, and wind speeds (mph) 8 to 20. Pretty ordinary really.

So are they all just making it up as they go along. If that's the best they can do looking over the next week no wonder people are skeptical about the catastrophic pronouncements predicted for the future. Interestingly Dr Ellis, who has predicted the inundation of Hull is described by the Independent as "an expert", yet then admits he is in fact "head of policy at the Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA)" Bit of a tenuous link to climate change expertise I think. I wonder if Dr Ellis is related to Harold Camping.

And I'm continuously told I've just experienced the hottest year on record, when I distinctly remember the weather, especially through the summer, as being shit. I remember the summer of 1976. Don't tell me last year was hot.

You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.

Choice

This is Jeffrey Spector. He has reignited the ongoing debate on euthanasia and assisted dying in the UK. Reading the Telegraph article it is clear that he took his decision after long and careful thought. He had taken much time and effort to educate himself about his condition. He chose to insist on his autonomy and to take control of his life and death.
According to the Telegraph on line poll 86% of respondents believe we should all have that choice. Inevitably there are those who disagree. The BMA, succinctly described recently by Dr Rant as "as much use as a one legged man in an arse kicking contest", are firmly opposed to the concept of assisted dying. The GMC are a little less dogmatic, stating only "our guidance in Good Medical Practice is clear that doctors must adhere to the law" The implication being that if the law changed they might go along with it.
But there are those so opposed they would deny patients their autonomy for the sake of  their own philosophy, even claiming that those who wish to end their lives do not know their own mind. Dr Peter Saunders, who was not in any way involved with Mr Spector's care has been quoted as saying "“This tragic case illustrates the dangers of legalising assisted suicide or euthanasia in Britain.
“The vast majority of people with cancer or quadriplegia (which was a risk but not a present reality for this man) actually do not wish to kill themselves but rather want support and care to go on living as comfortably as possible for as long as possible”. 
What an extraordinarily arrogant and paternalistic statement. And, I believe, untrue. Dr Saunders also employs the classical "bait & switch" ploy, equating voluntary assisted dying with involuntary euthanasia, which he claims would be an inevitable development if the law was changed. Indeed on this website in his first paragraph opposing assisted dying he pulls a Godwin.
Dr Saunders is an evangelical christian, as is clear on the website. This fact, for me, raises a question. Why is it that those most opposed to assisted dying are those who believe most strongly in a better afterlife?