GP finds love with patient's husband....

Well... this is a tricky moral dilemma isn't it?  Judging others is such dangerous ground, after all, few of us a pure of heart and mind.... but on this one, I can't help but think that perhaps there was some middle ground...

"How our sister was betrayed by the doctor who put sex before duty"

Truth is, love happens, two people fell in love over the death bed of the spouse of one of the pair.... love happens.... it is precious and should never be discarded when it has a chance to blossom... (yikes you would think I am romantic, but honestly, I don't have a romantic bone in my body!).

However.... to my way of thinking, and there are, very rare, occasions when I'm wrong so don't quote me...  this doc didn't make her mistake in the two weeks after her patient passed away.  She made her mistake in the weeks or even months leading up to the death.  As soon as she began to have romantic feelings about the husband of her patient, she should have come clean.

If uncertain about her course of action, she should have consulted with the medical council!

 

Instead, she has created a situation where questions can be asked about the sad death of this poor woman, how can anybody ever be sure that her motives, in nursing a dying woman and signing the death certificate were pure?  Likely they were, but her behaviour has created a situation where questions COULD be asked about the death.  In doing this, she has shown herself to lack professionalism, thus there is only one right outcome.  She cannot be trusted to be a doctor and put the needs of her patient first and their combined actions have resulted in unnecessary distress for the relatives of Mrs Owens at a time when they should be able to focus on their grief at her passing.

Simple!

Don't judge her because she was married, she isn't the first to leave her husband for another man.... or as quoted by the family of the deceased, "because of indecent haste", but perhaps examine her actions because she created a situation that caused questions to be asked, interfering with the grieving process for her patient and a situation that could have been avoided with some honesty up front.

In the news this week?

I hardly know where to start!   The news this week has been huge...

.... opening with the Boston Marathon bombings, followed by an explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas and the loss of lives, leading into a tremendous display of pomp and ceremony with Baroness Margaret Thatcher's funeral, which I am happy to say was relatively free of protestors and the Queen looking so well.  Shocking revelations in the press about Rolf Harris, I so hope he isn't guilty, a childhood illusion shattered.  A 5 year old little girl held in a wicked and brutal attack in New Delhi, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake in China too many dead .... 20 Kremlin critics arrested in Russia, a return to the bad old days perhaps?  .... and finally closing with the celebrations when one of the Boston bombers is killed and the other captured but seriously injured in hospital!

..... And the good news?  The Queen looking fabulous and relaxed, celebrating her horse winning at Newbury and not just good but great news, they passed the gay marriage bill in New Zealand by 77 votes to 44!  Go the Kiwi's, you have my admiration and its great to see you leading the pack in the region with modern thinking and showing, unlike so many, you don't suffer from narrow minded bigotry!  

My favourite video clip of the week goes to Maurice Williamson and his speech in New Zealand Parliament ..... well said Maurice!  Love it!

Protests in Trafalgar Square

Thatcher's Death "Party" In London Draws Hundreds

This event made the TV news in Australia and firstly, I felt a sense of shame and disgust on behalf of the British public, mainly because of the lack of respect towards a dead woman but confusion reigned when a man was interviewed to explain his rationale.  His father "went on strike and stayed on strike for a year".  He recalled being hungry and begging for money, there was no mention of Arthur Scargill, only that a choice made by his father was somebody else's fault....I guess this man needs somebody to blame for an unhappy time in his life, if he didn't blame Maggie, he might have to direct the blame at the person who made the choice - his father!

The Thatcher Government never brought in legislation forcing his Dad to go on strike. His Dad could have chosen to go back to work, although in fairness, he would have risked his life in doing so - not from Maggie but from the violence perpetrated by his so called brothers.  Maggie's crime was to stand up to bullies and not give in to blackmail.  Presumably, the interviewee felt that it was perfectly acceptable for his Dad and his comrades to repeat the events of the 70's where they brought the country to its knees.  It had to stop, the power of the union bosses was out of control and destined to take Britain into the third world. 

The miners are proud of the fact that they went on strike during WWII, they didn't deserve public sympathy.

As to the rest of the party animals, what do they hope to achieve?  Margaret Thatcher is dead, she never gave in to them in life, I can't imagine she will smile down on them in death.

Scary UKIP gaining momentum....

I am speechless at the apparent response to a Daily Mail article... UKIP are b********, Maggie was good looking and Ed Miliband lacks his brother's charm: Denis Healey is still outspoken at 95

To which I replied:

He is quite right, the UKIP party is dangerous - if you are thinking of voting for them, PLEASE read their manifesto. Think Germany 1932 - their goal is to increase the military for no obvious reason, absolve themselves of responsibility by way of devolution of power and ultimately leave the country flat broke!

To which I received (at time of writing) 60 red arrows! and a small handful of responses...

He is quite right, the UKIP party is dangerous - if you are thinking of voting for them, PLEASE read their manifesto. Think Germany 1932 - their goal is to increase the military for no obvious reason, absolve themselves of responsibility by way of devolution of power and ultimately leave the country flat broke! - Jay >>>>>>>>>>>    Apart from decreasing our military....is this not exactly what is happening now, do you seriously think we will not be ruled by Brussels in 2 years time and our Parliament disbanded, once the Lisbon Treaty comes into full force....I do not think it is UKIP repeating 1932!!!!! Weapons are not needed anymore it is destruction by other means!

S of Dorchester only received 17 arrows for that response... but they were all green!  So many confused people but thank you for restating my point! ermmm... and I said "increasing the military" not decreasing!!!!!!  .....

...... and from another who only call themselves "UK Rising".... who, incidentally, has 41 green arrows....

. . .'He is quite right, the UKIP party is dangerous . . . and ultimately leave the country flat broke! - Jay  >>>>>>>>>>>  Gosh, tell us about your brilliant Labour Party, and how their ideology prevents them from ever making this country an economic success . . ! You think communists do any good for the working people, or something ? GBrown's political hero was a dyed-in-the wool commie - and look what Brown did to this country. . . !

..... It is one hell of a leap to assume that because I fear the UKIP fascist doctrine that I vote Labour or am a Communist!  When did Britain become "two party UKIP or Communist Labour"?.... I have never leaned to the Left in my life!  Occasionally staggered in that direction perhaps but only due to one too many wines!

and so I posted a further comment:

It is very simple - if you want to know the truth about the UKIP, read their manifesto! It speaks for itself

I am proud to say, I am doing a little better with this one rating 21 green arrows!  Sadly though, I fear my point has been missed... as I read the response from somebody who calls themselves a UKIP Voter and has gained themselves a mere 9 green arrows!

It is very simple - if you want to know the truth about the UKIP, read their manifesto! It speaks for itself- Jay >>>>>>> And for us, the long suffering taxpayer.

I am surprised to have provoked any retaliatory comments at all but what these and many of the other responses demonstrate is the ignorance of the voting public and how an extremist party, reminiscent of Hitler's 1932 Government can come to power.  Too many voters are stuck on a single theme "get out of the EU" and blind to the fact that the UKIP plan to create a highly militarised regime, flat broke, racist and devolved.

.... I AGREE with the sentiment to leave the EU, but Britain must first renegotiate terms for trade... and for the record, I am certainly no fan of Denis Healey but his politics seem relatively mild when compared to many politicians today.

OH and BTW.... It will be interesting to see all of those Brits who have taken for granted their right to travel and live freely around Europe suddenly being booted out.

WWII - The contemptible SS

Apparently with the intent of "showing the lives of SS men objectively" Mr Stekiewicz has re-emphasised just what a despicable race the German SS were leading up to and during WWII.

The 'kindly' Auschwitz commander who sent youngsters to gas chambers then went home to play hide and seek with his children

No matter how much I learn about this period in history it continually surprises, sickens and horrifies. But not so for some it seems and one of the comments on this story made my blood boil:

"Whats the difference between the genocide committed in world war 2 by the Germans and by the British in New Zealand , Australia and also the colonies in the New World to the Irish? None !!!!! start printing some of the atrocaties the British have committed its ever so boring hearing about the Germans in world war 2...."

Honestly?

Does this person know nothing at all about WWII? Instead of being bored by it, perhaps he/she should read the facts.  Over 60 million people died in the conflict (2.5% of the population of the planet).  Around 70% of an entire ethnic group was brutally and clinically murdered.  As to this book, these contemptible murderers do not deserve to be viewed objectively.  In fact, this contrast with their work life only emphasises their lack of humanity - "Just another day at the office".

Crazy Weather!

As we live through the tail-end of ex-cyclone Oswald, I am in Brisbane, Queensland and once again, we are suffering wild weather.  But then, it wouldn't be January without wild weather in Queensland AND worse, at least one natural disaster in Australia!!!

The fires in Southern states have been heartbreaking.  The floods in northern states are no doubt bringing their own suffering.  This is our world.

Then there is the news from the UK: snow, snow and floods to follow.  The M6 closed and motorists stranded for up to 8 hours, such strange and extreme weather patterns.  A friend keeps telling me "its global warming" but sorry, I am a global warming sceptic!  I am not sceptical about climate change though!  Throughout the history of our planet it has undergone climatic change.  From ice ages through extreme heat, it is what the planet does.  At worst, perhaps the current populous is accelerating the pattern but nothing more.

Even the hole in the ozone is slowly closing thanks to nations addressing the very real threat posed by excessive use of CFC's in the 80's!

Stand up to Bullies

I read an article this week that both angered and disgusted me.  Mary Beard, OBE and Professor of Classics at Cambridge University suffered unbelievable and unacceptable cyber bullying after appearing on Question Time, a BBC topical debating program.  Apparently the cyber bullies disagreed with her view on immigration, that's fine - that is what debate is all about.  However... their bullying took the form of an attack on her person.  They didn't like how she looked and went to extremes with their insults.  They called her ignorant (yes, a Professor at Cambridge) and "a vile, spiteful excuse for a woman who eats too much cabbage and has cheese straws for teeth" - how grown up is that?  Instead of ignoring these infantile tormentors, Ms Beard fought back and publicly spoke of the bullying.

How I turned the tables on my trolls: Mary Beard suffered vile online abuse about her looks after appearing Question Time

How shallow has society become when some grey hair and a make-up-free face result in such ignorant base behaviour.  How sad are these people's lives that they seek happiness from being nasty and malicious.  Bullies online hide behind anonymity and offline behind fawning sycophants, I admire Ms Beard for showing leadership in standing up to them in her little part of the world.

Bullies must be stopped.  Legislation is unlikely to help but I vote for public shaming.  If they cannot hide behind anonymity then just maybe they will stop.

If you are bullied, remember bullies are weak and typically suffer an inferiority complex.  This is why they need to be anonymous or surrounded by worshipers.  They hide their own failings behind nastiness and it is OK to stand up to them, but yes it is hard although ultimately, the only way to stop them.  Showing weakness feeds them.

As to the debate, it is exactly that - opposing sets of views being discussed - it is what intelligent people do.  We don't have to agree with her but it is wrong to try and stop her expressing her opinion, especially when it is based upon extensive research.

Planting Seeds!

After mulling over the article about "more than a thousand Roman Catholic priests voicing opposition to same-sex marriage legislation in an open letter to the Daily Telegraph" I suddenly twigged!  This is not only about their fight against gay marriage..

After hundreds and even thousands of years of persecuting others, the Catholic Church has started planting seeds in the media (and no doubt other forums) indicating they are the victims of persecution.  How incredibly and amazingly clever!  I was distracted by the gay marriage debate and didn't realise the primary underlying purpose of their article, which in my opinion is to lay down the seeds for future generations to become confused about exactly who was persecuted and who was not.

The letter stated: “After centuries of persecution, Catholics have, in recent times, been able to be members of the professions and participate fully in the life of this country"

What complete and utter dross!!!

The institution of the Catholic Church is not the victim, it is the perpetrator of persecution!!! From the inquisitions of the middle ages to the alleged collaboration with Nazi Germany.  I struggle to accept that the institution of the Catholic Church can ever be classed as victimised.

I have no argument with those who follow the Catholic doctrine only an exceedingly strong distaste for an institution that manipulates and attempts to control by fear.

The Church on Gay Marriage

This post was prompted by apparent opinion of a news article about more than a thousand Roman Catholic priests voicing opposition to same-sex marriage legislation in an open letter to the Daily Telegraph.

Here is my theory!!    In my first hand experience there is minimal enthusiasm in Britain for the church and yet the UK sentiment against gay-marriage has a very strong religious feel to it.  The pews are empty on all but the major festivals (OK, so people like to sing Christmas carols) and so where is all this religious fanaticism come from?  Why are so many comments in favour of religion and so much negativity against anybody who even hints that the church should mind their own?  My theory is that religious institutions are paying people to work full time writing  comments and voting accordingly!   In modern society it is NOT appropriate for any religious denomination to have a say in how our countries are governed!

More reasons to fight?

Was there a church in Mecca? Chiselled stonework with 'Christian figure' discovered at holy site in Yemen

Oh great, another location in the Middle East for religious zealots to scrap over. Just what we need!!!

Piers Morgan

Let me first say, I am no supporter of Piers Morgan... but....

Judging by the unbalanced weight of opinion against Piers, I can only assume that the world has gone mad.  With the petition to the US Administration, we can safely assume the gun lobby are out in force, however anybody who bothers to listen to Piers or understand his sentiment on this topic will see that his argument is balanced and sound.  He is not challenging the right to bear arms only the use of modern deadly assault weapons in the name of the second amendment.  I am sure many US citizens are mature enough to recognise the mismatch and the need for a different approach, lets hope there are enough US citizens who don't wait for the NRA to tell them what/how to think.  

If anything I would suggest the NRA are imposing on the first amendment.  The abridging of the right for freedom of speech!

Hope for the future?

Since September 2010, when Christchurch suffered its first earthquake the news media has never eaten so well.  Their banquet has included the November 24th Pike River mine disaster and extreme weather sweeping through Europe and the US.  Never before have we seen natural disaster on such a grand scale.  With 2011 barely underway, yet another country has been in the firing line each month ... Australia in January, New Zealand took a turn in February and most recently Japan in March, the most tragic of all.  Alongside this, the Middle East.


Amidst flood, earthquake, tropical cyclones and tsunami's it is difficult to see good, but maybe it is time for our reporters to remind us of the positives and help to restore some of the balance.   The end of a long drought in Australia.  Egypt's freedom from Mubarak, with its sights firmly set on democracy.  Even traditionally greedy world financiers working together to prevent the Japanese Yen from taking a nose dive.  Britain ending exports of execution drugs to the US, a small but significant move away from hypocrisy.  And let's not forget, England winning the Ashes on Australian soil for the first time in 24 years!  Much more importantly,  China putting history and hatred where it belongs and offering aid in a meaningful gesture to Japan and the Arab league working hand in hand with Western Governments to help the Libyan people. 


Good from bad....is this the start of global cooperation?  Let's hope... amidst the disaster, just maybe we are seeing the first baby steps toward a better world. 

295 shopping days to Christmas

Just 64 days into 2011... 301 to go....

Already this year we have seen major earthquakes in beautiful Christchurch and The Philippines, revolution in the Middle East, the overthrow of an Egyptian dictator and we watch in horror as a Libyan madman turns on his own people.  Australia's worst disaster with the flooding of Bris Vegas and Queensland.  As if that wasn't enough our hearts filled with fear as Cyclone Yasi headed for our shores.... we've seen flooding in Victoria and a cyclone in Darwin... fires in WA threatened its capital...

Anna showed she has a heart while Julia showed she does not.... Kev confirmed he was an idiot as he waded through sewage and dirty flood water to impress a gullible media pack and then there's Tony.... not a man who thinks much before he speaks... I confess I prefer his fellow Rhodes Scholar, Malcolm...

And amidst all of this, the suggestion of a death penalty for Julian Assange described by Hills as "a bigger threat to the US than Osama Bin Laden"!!  Has he really done something to justify such an enthusiastic response?  A Western Government gone mad!  A nation living in fear that responds to increasing world animosity with threats of war and violence yet never once stops to ask itself "why?"

And then there is the iPad2 and the bionic eye roll out, the controversial NBN and let's not forget Moonageddon! 

What's next?  The flood levy, carbon tax, higher inflation, falling house prices, higher taxes... oh joy....

OH and while I remember... don't forget.... its only 295 shopping days to Christmas....

Rolling Eyes

Even I think my sense of humour is a bit sad at times but some things just really make me laugh.  Am I the only one who laughed at headlines talking about bionic eyes being rolled out?  You can't talk about rolling out eyes for goodness sake....

Impressive technology, awesome and no doubt it will bring something amazing to many....

Did the writer of the headline use the words intentionally?  Who knows... the article certainly caught my eye...

15th January 10am - Brisbane Floods - The Power of The Microphone

The Power of the Microphone

Backup up a little...

Don't you just love the media and their efforts to bring the latest headlines to the nation?

In the aftermath of the Brisbane floods, too early for clean up duty, those of us lucky enough to have power were glued to our TV screens watching the news broadcasts from Kangaroo Cliffs. One famed reporter, who shall remain nameless, stood on the cliffs clearly concerned but stoic and, as always, calm. Not even a suggestion he may exaggerate a little for the TV…. His focus centred around a small loan sailing yacht drifting mid river, which had "broken away from it's mooring". Apparently we, the river police and the emergency services were "all watching this boat very carefully as it made its way down river… just around the corner is the marina with millions of dollars worth of boats this loose cannon could crash into, we are all just waiting to see what happens"… OMG!!!!!

But really!!!!!! The millions of dollars of boats had evacuated like lemmings over a cliff days before the flood… all that remained was a lonely house boat, hanging on for dear life …. and as to the loan yacht? Well it was the last of around 998 other boats that had already gone by minus their captain… along with half a restaurant, several water ski's, the odd fridge, snakes, lizards and countless jetties … OK some with their boats still moored but all now leading a new existence in our beautiful Moreton Bay…. … and did I mention a 300 tonne walkway? .. Mate - honestly - it was all over two days ago!

His yacht perhaps…??

14th January 08:31am - Brisbane Floods - river levels

For those who can’t see the river, I can confirm it has receded significantly overnight. Another foot and it will be back to the same level it was when I arrived home on Tuesday afternoon!

13th January 10:09am - Brisbane Floods - Lifts

For those who haven’t heard yet, it looks very much like both of our buildings have completely escaped the water!! Awesome... wot a relief!

Now you may recall I mentioned an inability to record Coronation Street? Turns out that was the least of it, it can get worse.... they have disabled our lifts.... FOURTEEN flights of stairs... dark ... narrow fire stairs are the only way out... and worse... the only way back! KILLER! even heading down is an experience... the "monster" noises and heavy breathing.... just around the corner as others climb up...

12th January 7:30pm - Brisbane Floods - Coro

OH NO! Our data centre provider just went onto Generator power... keep everything crossed they have a good relationship with the fuel supplier :(

We switched to generator here at about 4pm.... And have just learned that it is to be rationed in 2 hour blocks - 3 of them in the next 24 hours so my availability will now become limited.... BUT EVEN WORSE! My ability to watch Coronation Street has taken a hit!