Hillery remarks - Considering society may be beneficial

IT WOULD be easy but hypocritical to cheer too loudly for Dr John Hillery, a former head of the Medical Council who has accused doctors of putting their own interests before those of their patients.

The reality is that many of us are members of lobby groups, unions or associations which are happy to advance the interests of their members even if that has a negative impact on society.

There is nothing wrong with insisting on a good deal but that deal should acknowledge more than just the interests of the employers and the employees. Those who use and pay for a service must have at least equal consideration and too often that has been ignored.

However, it would not be any harm if we took a leaf from Dr Hillery’s book and wondered if our personal interests would be best served in the long run by putting the requirements of society before our immediate interests.