Infamous conduct
From Dr A. J. Nimmo Sir: I was rather shaken by John Rowan Wilson's references (December 9) to what he called ' Victorian nonsense' in his article on infamous conduct, as I have always admired him greatly, not only for his style and lucidity but also for his common sense. I know little of the details of the case of the locum doctor in Cornwall who slept with a married lady, one of his patients, and it is quite possible that the circumstances did not warrant his being struck off the Register.
But Dr Wilson then goes on to recount some of his own ' affairs ' as a ship's doctor and, by his equating these with the Cornwall case, one can only infer that those referred to were married ladies under his professional care. I frankly don't think that anyone will believe this — the penalty of discovery and being struck off was too great, apart from the lesser penalty of losing a mach sought-after and lucrative job. Nor do I believe for one moment that his friend, the distinguished RMO, slept with married nurses who were his patients.
If all these ladies in question were not married, one is then rather puzzled as to his motives in telling us about these incidents — perhaps exhibitionism or just a wistful yearning for a more potent past.
Surely there must be a reason ably powerful sanction to deter doctors from abusing their position of trust. They are in a much more advantageous position to do so than any other profession. To take one example, one has only to think of the emotional bond set up between a mother and a doctor who she thinks has saved the life of her child.
In short, I think that this part of his article was about the only silly thing that I have seen him write, but perhaps he was just ' stirring it up' and I have risen to the bait.
1 Forest Hill Road, Honor Oak, London SE22 A laister Nimmo
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