The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 268 No 7198 p683-685
18 May 2002

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  Education
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Letters to the Editor

The Council

Might as well stay at home

From Mr W. B. Rhodes, FRPharmS

The letter from a previous editor of The Pharmaceutical Journal, Robert Blyth, warning of the dangers of limiting free speech by members of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s Council should be reread and heeded by all the profession (PJ, 4 May, p612).

The Cheltenham and Gloucester branch recently had a Council member to speak and he flatly refused to give his views in response to questions saying that if he did so he would be in breach of the code of conduct and would thus be denied papers for meetings and participation in Council affairs. Whether he was influenced by the presence of a “minder” from the PR department, to whom he constantly deferred, I cannot say.

If Council members are to be limited to telling us simply what we can read in The Journal then they might as well stay at home and so might we.

Bruce Rhodes
Winchcombe, Gloucestershire

Smacks of totalitarianism

From Dr G. B. Drummond, MRPharmS

It is good to know that a committed crusader like Robert Blyth has decided not to let his sword sleep in his hand. His views, so well expressed in his recent letter (PJ, 4 May, p612), deserve the support of all members who value the principles of open and transparent governance. The increasing tendency, in so many directions, to muzzle the possible critics, smacks of totalitarianism and must be resisted.

I look forward to more members of Council refusing to accept the quite indefensible vow of silence.

Gordon Drummond
Hull, North Humberside

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