E-drug: Helsinki declaration (cont)
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Dear friends,
The affair about pharmacists and medical care reminds me of an old
story told by Graham Dukes about the London-based "Most
Worshipful Society of Apothecaries", who, in the 1st half of the 19th
century, also wanted to treat patients, not just dispense medicine.
They sent a request to the Royal College of Physicians asking
whether in future they would be permitted to treat minor illness. The
straightforward answer was clear: Yes, on the condition that you
first study medicine. All of the members did so, and then became a
small select society within the RCP. That seems to be the reason
why in the UK a pharmacist is not called apothecary, as in most
other countries.
I don't think much has changed - if you want to treat patients, study
medicine. If you want to sell and dispense medicines or are mainly
interested in chemistry and drug development, do so and study
pharmacy. There is no replacement for hard work at the bedside.
Good luck.
Dr.L.Offerhaus
Koedijklaan 1a, NL-1406KW Bussum, The Netherlands
Phone: +31-35-6923288. Fax: +31-35-6923290
E-mail: LO@EURONET.NL CompuServe: 71530,15
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