Good discussion of the issues, thanks for posting. The guy is a bit indirect at times and I couldn't follow all the arguments he was making, but the key point about informed consent and how not allowing free choice in health workers would inevitably impact on patient care was solid IMO. I don't know why he went on to undermine this a bit by indulging Sayers' questioning of 'at what point would you consider more 'rough' govt tactics' (paraphrase, but he used the word 'rough') instead of making it clear that forced/coerced/mandated medical treatment is wrong, full stop. I guess with them both being highly educated, professional types they're sympathetic to the managerial role and like to consider how it might be done better, rather than questioning the whole approach of having a small cadre of people claiming the right to dictate matters of life and death for the mass of the population. They haven't been on the receiving end of unaccountable power and it shows (though this might change in April for Dr. James!) On the other hand it's probably v. important to have people objecting from this background too - much harder for govt & industry to ignore. Hope he continues to speak out.

cheers,
I