Article Text
Letters to the editor
Exploring the scope for advocacy by paediatricians
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Editor,—Dr Bell shows himself to be as much influenced by prejudice as the paediatricians he criticises, in his comments on “the family” (Commentary, December 1999 issue ofADC, p. 517). We agree entirely with him that advocacy should have an evidence base. It also needs to have an achievable focus and be politically attainable: neither are easy to define in relation to family life. Whilst we might agree that a two parent family is desirable, not even the Pope, the Archbishop of Canterbury, nor Mrs Thatcher can influence current trends and the role of politics is minimal.
Two other aspects of his commentary disturb us. First, advocacy as much as counselling requires careful study and applied …