Mick Hartley

A letter to the Times today from James Johnson, Chairman of the BMA council from 2003-07:

Sir, As a former chairman of the BMA council I, like so many other members, have been horrified and saddened by the direction taken by the organisation in recent years. The latest idiocy is its peremptory rejection of the Cass review, a position on which it has completely failed to consult the members it purports to represent (“Doctors quit BMA over trans children stance”, news, Aug 27).

At its best, the BMA has been highly effective both in representing the interests of doctors and in promoting better public health and patient care. Examples include its evidence-based campaigns on smoking, seatbelt legislation, medical school expansion and boxing control. Sadly, the BMA has succumbed to entryism, with a group of ideologues now dominating the council. Their views are a world away from those of most doctors, but they seem intent on taking a wrecking ball to the organisation I was proud to serve for many decades.