Dear Editor,
I am an avid reader of Dr Ruairi Hanley’s column and have always admired his ability to speak his mind, even when not politically correct to do so. However, I cannot help feeling that his column of July 16, ‘Recognising one’s right to privacy’ (See www.imt.ie/opinion/2010/07/recognising_ones_right_to_priv.html) was perhaps not of his usual standard.
Having been a full-time (albeit handbag-carrying) lady doctor (yes, there are a few of us about…) GP for more years than I care to admit, I acknowledge that one of the downsides of the job is loss of privacy. I have been approached at the shops, at funerals, at the swimming pool and, to my shame, at the local bookies (I stress, I only go into the bookies once a year, for the annual surgery Grand National flutter).
On one particularly memorable occasion, I was followed into the changing room at Marks & Spencer, ironically enough, not by a patient, but by a colleague, who felt it necessary to berate me about a perceived injustice regarding the Christmas rota!
General practice can be frustrating, exhausting, demanding and more. It is also, by turn, incredibly fulfilling and satisfying. The definition of a general practitioner is one who provides “personal, primary and continuing care” and long-term relationships with patients and their families is what makes our branch of medicine unique amongst medical specialties. Like it or not, that does not stop at 5pm.
In general, we are still trusted, respected and highly regarded by our patients. This trust is hard earned and not to be lightly discarded.
Experience teaches us to terminate inappropriate approaches. If I might suggest to the colleague “who emerged practically in tears” from her haircut, certain things in life are worth tears — death, taxes, plague, pestilence, public waiting lists, snakes, hideously large spiders, and restaurant menus that consist of nothing but fish and vegetarian nonsense. Garrulous hairdressers do not count.
A practical suggestion for Dr Hanley. I have found the following answer to ‘what do you do?’ to be most useful: ‘I am a Revenue Inspector.’
This is especially effective for the self-employed hairdresser and should silence taxi drivers at 20 paces. Simple yet cunning. Failing that, might I suggest a change of speciality to pathology? In this case, you are most unlikely to be troubled by approaches from your patients.
Dr Triona Marnell,
Rahona House Surgery,
Hawkes Road,
Bishopstown, Cork City
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