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What is it about the number of stitches?

BMJ 2015; 350 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.h1042 (Published 13 March 2015) Cite this as: BMJ 2015;350:h1042

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The BMJ and Patients' rights : a right stitch up ?

The BMJ frequently refers to its creditable concern to take responsible note of patients’ experiences and opinions.

You did so when beginning the Guidelines article on major trauma (1).

On the previous page, under the curiously chosen heading, 'Art of Medicine', we read about the number of stitches that patients may receive. (2)

It repeats all those good humoured, tasteless and patronising comments about patients that many readers, now in our dotage, exchanged across the doctors’ mess dining table, half a century ago.

“Plus ca change.... “

1 BMJ2016;353:i3051
2 BMJ2015;350:h1042

Competing interests: No competing interests

27 June 2016
Noel Thomas
GP retd/locum
Bron-y-Garn Maesteg Wales CF34 9AL
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