For the first time in the history of the NHS, hospital consultants and junior doctors are going on strike on the same days later this month.
Whatever service that will be put in place, there will still be a detrimental impact on patients care in the short and long term.
There is a fundamental question here of medical ethics.
Many of the public believe that the Hippocratic principle of “first do no harm” guides doctors, but in this case, remuneration is the principle consideration.
It is not ethical that the interests of the sick can be harmed in this way.
The matter is dealt with in the May and August editions of the Catholic Medical Quarterly of this year.