Transformation Of Man

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32391, 2 September 1970, Page 16

Transformation Of Man

Sir, —The attack on my colleagues by your contributor, J. A. Harvie (August 29, page 5), perhaps explains the steady exodus of psychiatrists from this city to Australia, and the failure of Christchurch to maintain parity with the rest of New Zealand (where we are twice as scarce as in Australia and the United Kingdom). Mr Harvie’s speculation about moral values and the influence of the news media is interesting, but his assertions about psychiatric practice and conditions in mental hospitals are untrue. The irony is that psychiatrists have an outstanding record of resistance to oppressive regimes and have been specially selected for unfavourable treatment by Hitler and Governor Reagan. They differ from other groups of specialists in their publicised official attitude to liberal social reforms, and the value of the individual citizen and his right to express idiosyncratic personal values is held in special regard by them. I respect Mr Harvie’s right to publish his personal views, but I deplore his failure to get his facts right before being offensive. Could I, through you, invite him to visit my department and meet the patients ire describes so inaccurately? Dr Begg would also welcome him at Sunnyside Hospital, where he would have an opportunity to make touch with reality.—Yours, etc., JOHN DOBSON, Convener, Canterbury Group, A.N.Z. College of Psychiatrists. August 31, 1970.