From Mr M. E. James, FRPharmS
SIR,-I refer to Mr Morris's letter (PJ, July 15, p90) and have to say that I am somewhat concerned by his statements. He has had, he confirms, a university education. He is a member of a scientific profession, one which is spending some time at present in considering the evidence base for decision making. He will no doubt have been taught at university that the evidence we require in our professional lives is gained from many sources; it may come from laboratory work, it may come from clinical experience, from one's own observation of a condition, or from critically reviewed articles in the professional press. It must not come from the uncritical acceptance of the unexamined assertions of others. And, surely, we should practise outside our pharmaceutical lives those disciplines we are taught within them? If critical assessment of a clinical situation is required of a pharmacist, it must be right to make a lifetime habit of the process, if only to make sure that we do it when we must. I naturally assumed, therefore, that when Mr Morris asserted that certain people were often heard complaining of the low levels of social security payments while smoking in the pub (PJ, July 1, p14) he had evidence for his statement. In other words he was making that assertion either as a consequence of his own repeated experience or as a result of a regular and systematic review. Either way, he must have been frequenting pubs! Perhaps not in Newquay; maybe, somewhere else. As to his background, does this mean that when he goes to a pub he uses the public as opposed to the saloon bar?
One of my non-pharmaceutical activities is chairing the management committee of our local Citizens Advice Bureau. By coincidence, the same post as last week's PJ brought a letter from a fellow citizen thanking me for the service our bureau provided. The writer was most grateful to have one of our bureau workers help them and their disabled son through the complexities of the social services system. The writer is a middle class professional, well used to sorting out complex issues. If she has trouble, what of others?
I am sure that I do not need to make further comment on Mr Morris' views on bad attitudes. I am sure that other colleagues will make appropriate comments.
Miall E. James
Benfleet, Essex