Body of knowledge
Sir: I am glad Dr Frew (Letters, 26 January) agrees with me on the question of compulsory teaching, and congratulate him on his high per- sonal standards in his patients' welfare. These do not always prevail elsewhere. I am forwarding him a copy of the Daily Telegraph of 29 August 1967, detailing a case of how a mother was said to be discharged from a hospital for 'failure to co- operate' over teaching.
The effect on some patients of this practice is clearly set out in the definitive debate on this subject in Hansard, Volume 483, of 6 February 1951. Public concern recently can be seen on ques- tions on the subject in Hansard, 27 April 1964, column 28, 5 June 1964, column 215, 3 February 1965, column 295, 24 October 1966, column 633, and 12 December 1966, columns 18-19.
The question, of course, would easily be settled by the hospitals stating in their admission leaflets, as some do, that the patient's right to object will be respected.
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