One of the biggest criticism from the snobbery of medicine is that I write here and in many other places in a very colloquial manner. One of the remarks made was that a formal way of writing would achieve better results. This remark was made when I ran NHS Exposed. It continued to be made when we were shortlisted in the Sunday Times as the top 50 websites. It would probably continue now if the website existed. I am never convinced by this medical attitude because I always believe average people who are not snobs or trained in the medical manner react better to normal language. Its probably very lucky that I had the ability to communicate with the homeless man on the street to the Lord in Hereford in a manner where there was rapport. I can of course write very formally in a scientific manner. I remember winning the Rheumatology Council Prize long ago and those with private education just could not believe that someone as dirt common as I was could go on to win such things. One can only smirk in some ways. There is some satisfaction in defeating the sheer snobbery that exists in medicine. Its also sad that the profession straight-jackets a lot of their students into being clones of themselves. So much so that they cannot think in any other way but the way medicine believes to be right. I can write in many styles for many people. I prefer a kind of colloquial note form chit chat style. This is only because formality can get a bit boring. This specific petition exists not to show massive numbers of support, not to show posh language of communication - it exists to provide sound-bites to those who need the information and wish to understand how medicine and politics work to influence each other. I think its very important that the public is able to read and have access to information relevant to their own healthcare. Its frustrating for the medical ivory tower that I believe I have the ability to win in any forum. I have always believed this even when I was one of the first [ and still the only] junior doctor to take the GMC head on. I have won many many times in many issues at the GMC whether complaints were upheld or Presidential reviews won. I have also lost there. I have won in court as well and also lost. With each win or each loss, you learn just one more thing that will be useful in the future. Each journey is about developing your own character. University teaches you some things in life but the real lessons are learned through the trials and tribulations you go through. I think the key to winning is believing in your facts, researching your material and having the temerity to believe you can win against all odds. The other issue is individuality. One needs to keep faithful to your principles and keep faith in your ability to move forward no matter how many people there are around to dissuade you. At no point must you believe that you need to join the masses to make your point. While its human nature to club together, it takes courage and determination to stand by your own principles. In conclusion, be who you are and what you are and never let anyone tell you, you must be different or more formal to be acceptable to the masses. Even if the above is ignored, the great John F Kennedy was always right when he wrote this “Conformity is the jailer of freedom and the enemy of growth.” Have a good Sunday. Rita Pal