The Editor, Sir:

Re July 12, 2007 Gleaner report of Editors' Forum: As part of the leadership of the medical profession in this country for over 35 years, I have engaged your editors and your Editors' Forums from time to time during that period.

I have given health information, and responses to reports and news on health matters of national importance to the public freely. I have consistently striven to maintain a standard, which is evidence based.

To be fair, your reports in the past have in large measure been professionally distilled and have consistently sought to give the public a balanced and objective view of health matters of public interest. This is the hallmark of professional practice to which the medical profession in Jamaica is organically committed.

Ignoring context

Notwithstanding The Gleaner's past record, I am constrained to comment that your front-page report of the Editors' Forum of July 11, of the collective views of the profession, is suggestive of a departure from that principle.

The basis of this observation is the use of selective information from the medical participants at that forum, ignoring context, condition and circumstance, which we were at pains to carefully explain during the discussions.

This was further exacerbated by a front-page picture which (spoke a thousand words) could convey the impression that I was the spokesman for your contrived sensational headline. This impression is further compounded by the fact that you mentioned not a single word of my contribution to the discussion in the narrative of your lead article.

The Medical Association of Jamaica is the oldest professional organisation in the Western Hemisphere and cherishes the consistency of the high quality of its professional practice. We have never sought to compromise this position, nor are we tolerant of our position being compromised by anyone.

I am, etc.,

Dr. WINSTON MENDES DAVIDSON

Past President

Medical Association of Jamaica