John Crown: Move aside bureaucrats and let us take a lead

".....Professional managers have their place in any institution – but where they set the agenda it is likely to be serving political edicts to balance budgets and meet targets. “That often means the welfare of patients comes second, and also – and this may be an old-fashioned view – I do not think that doctors act solely in their own self-interests. We have higher ethical considerations than other professions.” ...........

John Crown: Move aside bureaucrats and let us take a lead:

Outspoken oncologists, willing to take on ‘the powers that be’, can often play a very helpful role in galvanising administrators and policy makers and pushing the priorities of clinicians higher up the agenda. There are notable such characters around Europe, but one oncologist has taken a bigger step into the realm of politics by becoming a senator in his parliament – from where he is able to directly challenge politicians and bureaucrats with the protection of parliamentary privilege.

'Heated political dynamics exist . . .': examining the politics of palliative care in rural British Columbia, Canada — Palliat Med

Blogger's Note: see prior blog post on palliative care/Vancouver for more insight into the 'lived' experience on this issue

Specialism: political oncology - - Cancer World - Europe

How the Politics of Breast Cancer Drives Up Costs - blog discussion on breast cancer/Avastin/FDA (U.S.)