Sir, - Your editorial headed "Gross Violation of Trust" regarding the vaccine errors in Kildare, grasps the essential point. Lack of trust is THE difficulty facing medical practice today. Doctors do not trust their patients, and their patients increasingly do not trust their doctors.
When I was a medical student, my consultant told me never to believe what patients told me (the implication being that I would be the best judge from my expert scientific standing). Although this may be a particularly lurid example of this lack of trust, it is an indication of a pervasive attitude, which, sadly, still exists amongst some parts of the medical profession.
This is particularly seen in connection with vaccination procedures, where parents reports of adverse reactions are frequently disregarded by the medical profession. DPT - A Shot in the Dark by Harris Coulter reveals the truer incidence of adverse reactions. It behoves the profession to listen to their patients, and adjust their attitudes accordingly, before this crisis of trust creates more difficulties for the practice of medicine. - Yours, etc,
Reeriascreena,
Rosscarbery, Co Cork.