‘How Doctors Keep Up’

The column “How Doctors ‘Keep Up’ Could Give Us A Headache” by Daniel S. Greenberg (Op-Ed Page, June 5), instilled within me a rebellious feeling--along with a headache. Can one judge the entire medical profession’s methods of continuing education studies by one or two experiences which Greenberg went through? Of course not! We in the United States provide some of the finest medical postgraduate studies available anywhere. I am not talking about the so-called medical studies provided by drug companies to tout their newest medication. I am talking about intensified studies in varied medical and surgical procedures.

Hospitals all over the United States hold intensive lectures by well-known medical teachers in the varied medical specialties. Compulsory attendance is required of each physician on the staff of the hospital. Numerous physicians also attend specialty courses in large medical centers throughout the United States to achieve expertise in their particular fields of practice. There are other numerous descriptions of ways in which our doctors keep up with the latest techniques in medicine, but space does not allow mention of these.

It would do Greenberg considerable good to attend hospital postgraduate studies and lectures, and witness the interest shown by staff physicians. Let us pray that Greenberg’s readers are not influenced by a dramatic description of his attendance at a drug company’s “seminar!”

FLOYD A. NASSIF, M.D.

Glendale