Dr. Vikram .R. Lotwala

In 2004, Professor Carol Black , who was then President of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), asked whether the increasing number of women in medicine might lead to a loss of influence and downgraded professionalism. She called for equal numbers of male and female doctors, rather than more women, to preserve balance and professional status. A review was initiated to look at the likely impact on medicine of the increasing numbers of women in the profession. The result, Women and medicine: the future , a report prepared on behalf of the RCP, was released on June 3. It effectively slays some myths about women in medicine. “The facts that emerge from this research do not suggest an immediate crisis…in medical leadership”, states the report. Concerns about the feminisation, or demasculinisation, of medicine are not substantiated. In fact, with increasing numbers of both women and men entering medicine, the potential for leadership is secure. The report does not address the position of ...

Original Text The Lancet has called for papers relating to violence and related response by medical fraternity. The Lancet says - Unfortunately, the 21st century world is all too familiar with violent conflicts. Some, like Israel's recent incursion into Gaza, make the headlines for weeks while others, like current events in Sri Lanka that are part of a 26-year war, continue to bring death, pain, and misery with little international attention. Fortunately, medical humanitarian organisations do not pay attention only to news headlines and aim to bring medical assistance to people in countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia, two of the most neglected humanitarian situations in the world. The involvement of the health community in violent conflicts should be more than disaster relief. In a recent Lancet Editorial we said: “If the Hippocratic Oath means anything, all doctors whatever their situation, specialty, or seniority should live up to this name by calling...