October 1997
Volume 61 |
Number 10
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| Letters to the
Editor |
Let's Discuss Problems, Not Differences
A healthy discussion should be brought about on the subject of
international medical graduates (IMGs.) The difficulties being
faced by our specialty and even the whole medical profession are
not caused by the IMGs. There are schools training physician assistants
and nurses to be anesthesia providers. ASA and the component societies
should concentrate on the problems associated with the providers
other than anesthesiologists instead of international medical
graduates. I would appreciate it if you would consider my letter
for publication in the NEWSLETTER so that a proper discussion
will evolve, instead of blaming a group of well-trained people.
S. S. Moorthy, M.D.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Should NEWSLETTER Be Peer-Reviewed?
Dr. Lear: It has been some time since you and I exchanged letters.
I enjoyed that exchange.
The NEWSLETTER has evolved a bit since then, including
welcomed additions that add knowledge in the fashion of the journal
Anesthesiology. This generates a question that perhaps
I should already know the answer to: are these articles subjected
to peer review or are they the invited opinions of the authors?
In particular, I ask because of the recent fen/phen article {April
1997), which could clearly appear in court in some form or another.
However, it is not, I think, in the Index Medicus, should one
do a literature search. You can see where I am going: first-rate
knowledge published in a (pardon the expression) throw-away source
depends on happenstance because if you do not see it on the first
pass, you can never recall the existence. That means the "other
guy" may have ammo that you not only do not have, but you
do not even know it exists. So, I was thinking that perhaps it
needs peer review (if it does not already have it), and if this
trend continues, we need an index and perhaps reprints. Thanks
for your time and I hope that you are well. I look forward to
hearing from you.
Clarence F. Ward, M.D.
San Diego, California
Dr. Lear Responds
My personal feelings on the matter of peer review is to leave
matters alone for the following reasons.
First, we preselect topics as themes for each issue at the annual
meeting of the Committee on Newsletter. Accordingly, we invite
specific authors (usually ASA committee members and chairs). For
the most part, these members are fairly knowledgeable with their
assigned topics.
Second, our turnaround time for articles from receipt to publication
is 30-45 days on average. Thirdly, the NEWSLETTER was never
intended as a competitor to Anesthesiology, and we try
to keep it as informal as
possible.
Finally, each volume of the NEWSLETTER has been indexed
annually since approximately 1986. Thus, the Wood Library-Museum
could be helpful in any search and with reprints.
Thank you for your input and continuing interest in the NEWSLETTER.
- E.L.
The views and opinions expressed in the "Letters
to the Editor" are those of the authors and do not necessarily
reflect the views of ASA or the NEWSLETTER Editorial Board. The
Editor has the authority to accept or reject any letter submitted
for publication. Letters must be signed (although name may be
withheld on request) and are subject to editing and abridgment.
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