MedicalBrief was right not be 'bullied' by Professor Tim Noakes on the issue of withdrawing Dr Alastair's Digital Clubbing column, writes a counselling psychologist via email.
I just wanted to say a general “thank you” for MedicalBrief and all the work put into it. I find it a fascinating read and it is really interesting to be updated on current issues in health in SA and abroad. Although sometimes it does fuel my frustration at the disarray of healthcare in SA, your e-newsletter certainly has broadened my horizons.
I also wanted to say a more specific “thank you” for taking a stance of not being bullied by Dr Tim Noakes, with his protests about unfairness, regarding Dr Alastair McAlpine's Digital Clubbing column. I enjoyed reading Dr McAlpine’s opinion as few would dare to disagree with Dr Noakes, especially after his Health Professions Council of SA victory. Sometimes it is good to hear opinions from the other side so that you don’t start to feel like the only one who is not hopping on the banting bandwagon and going cult crazy.
Your approach of not removing the column is fair. Your approach of allowing Dr Noakes to rant as he sees fit is also fair. (Although the tone and content of Dr Noakes’s response has certainly made me see him as more of an egomaniac than I ever did before.) I don’t think any reasonable person would read Dr McAlpine’s comments as anything more than his own opinions on the controversial Noakes/Banting phenomenon and Dr Noakes’s response seems like a case of “doth protest too much”.
ANONYMITY REQUESTED BY WRITER
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/less-lore-science-please/"]Dr McAlpine column[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/noakes-litany-specious-comments-errors/"]Noakes rebuttal[/link]
[link url="https://www.medicalbrief.co.za/archives/sboros-unsubstantiated-negative-opinions/"]Sboros rebuttal[/link]