Family matters

Junior doctors: - Now where did you say the heart is again?

Spare a thought for the junior doctor. He's constantly bullied, he works ridiculously long shifts, he's often called 'pond scum' by those further up the greasy pole of medicine. He's also hopeless when it comes to the human body.
A study of 55 junior doctors at one hospital found that half of them didn't have a clue where to insert a chest drain. Fortunately, says the study, senior house officers were more likely than their junior colleagues to find the right place - although it might have been more comforting if all of them knew where to put it.
A training programme could be a good idea, the researchers concluded. Just a thought.

* JUNIOR doctors are just one of the hazards you'll encounter if you step foot inside a hospital. To ensure you leave the place in one piece, you'll need the WDDTY Hospital Survival Guide. The book is a little like an insurance policy. We hope you never need it, but it's there when you do, and it's yours by clicking on this link: http://www.wddty.co.uk/shop/details.asp?product=14

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