Where Students Fit in

For the moment, hospitals et al continue to exist, and the value of the modern medical student, by continuing in the system, might hopefully be to instil pressures from within to develop a more flexible, personal, low-key, less out of touch, less expensive and less insecure health-caring system than presently exists, and that without compromising overmuch one's personal sanity or integrity.

The presence of the medical student in Wellington I feel, has hitherto been largely ignored by the general hub-bub of people concerned with University affairs; not on any deliberate account perhaps, but more because the school's ties have tended to stay with Otago, rather than switch to Victoria. The hope is that this lack of communication might in the future be redressed, to the advantage of both parties. One of the greatest traps for Medical students as they move into, and progress through, the Medical system, is that their focus on everyday life and its events does become progressively narrowed to fit the single medical monocular, and attempts at open discussion are all too often hampered by the unfortunate tendency of those in power, not to tolerate questioning of certain age-protected attitudes; especially not from subordinates in the same field. In such questioning they take on the amazing ability to feel threatened.

In all the above remarks in no way am I seeking to be unconstructive, only to point out that in no society should a structure purporting to work in the populaces' interest, be allowed to become autonomous from the essential workings of that society. The medical system has an accountability; an accountibility to every individual for whom it strives to promote health. And as such any discussion on the workings of this system should be encouraged, not persecuted, as was the case with recent criticism, of the medical school. Only in this way will some realistic attitude develop in New Zealand, to what has for too long been an 'unquestioned' and 'awe-seeking' profession.

Squires Bacre.