Using the
correct terms
Andrew J.
Baczkowski
Department of Statistics
In
his reply to my earlier letter, Professor Hoyle (Reporter
466) errs in claiming ultrasound is ‘used only where
there is an indicated diagnostic benefit’. Whilst
I am happy to support therapeutic uses of ultrasound,
I would argue that the routine use of ultrasonography
in obstetrics is unnecessary, limited in its effectiveness,
and with potential risks.
I
am aware that many scientific studies claim no adverse
effects for antenatal ultrasonography — indeed this
viewpoint could be described as the current dominant scientific
paradigm — and yet, as I hinted in my original letter,
there are many other studies which would suggest caution.
It
is for this reason that I dislike use of the terms ‘non-invasive’
and ‘non-radiative’. They are used to suggest
‘harmless’. If ‘non-ionising’ is what
is meant by ‘non-radiative’ then say so plainly!
As for ‘non-invasive’, that could be used to
describe high energy gamma rays!
See
reply from Dr Malcolm Povey, Procter Department of Food
Science
Online trip
down memory lane
Ken Davies
Director of the Economist Intelligence Unit
Hong Kong.
I
have just found your web exhibition, May-June 1968, which
describes the events that took place at that time in the
University of Leeds, events in which I was myself involved.
I can confirm much of what you say in your interpretation
of events, particularly concerning the role of the present
Home Secretary. Thank you very much for assembling this
information and presenting it so clearly and accessibly.
I
note that, like the best historians, you presented original
source material and confined yourself to a minimum of
descriptive text. I note that you used the relevant sections
of Union News, which was already at that time a national
prizewinner for its journalistic standards, if my memory
serves me correctly.
Apologies
to ...
...
Dr Haiko Muller to whom a letter entitled Smoking
ban from big brother was wrongly attributed in Reporter
465. All letters sent to the Reporter should include
the writer’s name and department or address, though
in certain circumstances names can be withheld from publication.
...
Dr Roger Clark, who was mistakenly elevated to
the position of head of earth sciences in Reporter
467. He told the Reporter that while he surmises
the actual head, Professor Bruce Yardley, might be happy
to hand over some of the administration, he’d rather
remain where he is — somewhere closer to the foot
or the knee!
