IVOR J. O'TOOLE,
Madam, - The levels of compensation awards to victims of alleged medical negligence astounds me - and I don't believe I am in the minority.
It is mind-boggling to think that a doctor's first instinct now may be to look after himself and not the patient. It would be foolish to think that this won't be the case.
Doctors get punished for their perceived mistakes, but they do not get rewarded for their sometimes miraculous acts. Is this fair? They are humans, not robots. The families and carers of children born with disabilities, be they physical or mental, obviously deserve society's help at every turn. I wouldn't be able to imagine myself in their shoes, my heart goes out to them; but they don't need sympathy, they need help. Should this burden fall on the doctor? It doesn't seem fair.
I know I wouldn't be alive today if it had not be for the fine works of many doctors. In my case there may initially have been grounds for litigation due to the time it took to diagnose my problem, but realistically doctors are doing their jobs like everyone else.
I work in a high-pressure environment, but it is not nearly as pressurised as that of doctors. I know that if I was punished for my mistakes at work, I would be become average at what I do. Is this what we want from our doctors?
I know not all doctors are good, but the harsh reality is that because of the nature of what they do, they can't be subject to black-and-white litigation systems like other professions. The Enterprise Liability scheme goes some way to help, but I think the authorities are coming at the problem from the wrong angle. The general taxation system should take care of these litigation suits; it is the fairest solution for everybody. - Yours, etc.,
IVOR J. O'TOOLE,
Cavaye Place,
London SW10.