Letters
Death notices are often dull catalogues of success
EDITOR,--The quality of medical practice is threatened by Liz Crossan and Richard Smith's thoughts on obituaries1 and diminished by the Lancet's decision to abolish obituaries. Instead of developing ideas about "publishing death notices rather than obituaries," the BMJ should be increasing the number of obituaries and making them interesting to read. The medical profession understands itself through its history. Obituaries are important in this. Current beliefs about the past influence the nature of practice. Sound practice in the history of medicine is essential to the health of the profession.
Obituaries are valuable in historical research and are a permanent historical source. A medical historian who wishes to learn about a particular doctor looks up his or her obituaries and those of associates. This can determine the structure of the work. To regard obituaries only as notices of death is an insult to the person who has died and expresses a
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- Growing pressure on BMJ's obituaries
- Liz Crossan and Richard Smith
BMJ 1995 310: 5-6.[Extract] [Full Text]
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