Thursday, March 18, 2004

So farewell then Barrie Blower

The head of Walsall Hospitals NHS Trust has resigned after saying that agency nurses "kill more people than they bloody save".

Leave aside the minor technicality that he is wrong - at least I hope he is - and look at the arguments of those who were outraged by him. They run something like this.

Nurses are wonderful people who can do no wrong.

Therefore anyone who questions this is wicked.

Therefore we need not listen to him.

Therefore nurses are wonderful people who can do no wrong.

You will often see this form of argument employed when people question the power of professionals.

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