CLEMENT IN THE BELIEVERS' DEN

The premise of your editorial No Reason to Scold Doctors (Aug. 20) and
the bevy of similarly minded letters from physicians who appear
appalled that their professional standards and willing acceptance of
the tenuous research findings in support of "harm reduction" in
general, and Vancouver's Insite clinic in particular, should be
challenged by anyone, least of all a minister of health, is truly remarkable.

Research published by those committed to the harm reduction strategy
who convince themselves that facilitating a downward spiral of
continued drug abuse is somehow in the interest of the abuser
certainly deserves severe questioning and skepticism. I applaud Tony
Clement for having the courage to do so in the den of the believers.

William L. Orovan

MD

Hamilton, Ont.