A burn-out case
Sir: So the bilious Dr Dalrymple has made a diagnosis of 'Dalrymple's Disease' ( If symptoms persist . . . , 19 March). A young woman wishes to understand herself in order to like herself. She recognises that she has an 'attitude problem' and seeks to change. Yet the good doctor takes greater interest in her jewellery and admits to fob- bing her off with talk of unhappy child- hoods. Might I suggest that Dalrymple's Disease is a common malady in our profes- sion, characterised by a loss of empathy and curiosity, a pervasive cynicism and a ten- dency to pass the buck (in this case by referring for counselling). Clearly his patient's questions are both pertinent and unanswerable; his failure to rise to the chal- lenge suggests 'burn-out', understandable in the context of NHS reforms in which market forces are being applied to a system where demand outstrips supply. One can only hope that Dr Dalrymple's self-diagno- sis will lead to rapid recovery and that his column will feature a patient whom he does not despise.
Dr John Famill Morgan
Atkinson Morley's Hospital, Copse Hill, Wimbledon
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