Sir, – I’d like to support Muiris Houston’s view on the essential nature of kindness in medicine (“Does it matter if your doctor is kind or not?”, October 30th).
However difficult the time and other constraints, kindness in the helping professions is not an optional extra. A harsh word in a time of crisis may sting for a lifetime, may well deter a return visit.
Even the most competent doctor does not get diagnosis right 100 per cent of the time. – Yours, etc,
MÁIRÍDE WOODS,
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Sutton,
Dublin 13.