Letter: Out of surgery
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Letter: Out of surgery
Sir: The "surgery" may well have been a suitable description for the workplace of the surgeon-apothecary (forerunner of the modern general practitioner) who in days gone by carried out major and minor surgical procedures on the premises. Nowadays, when all significant surgery is performed in hospital, the appelation "GP's surgery" is gradually being replaced by the "health centre", "medical centre" or, as in the United States, the "doctor's office".
If the term "surgery" is outmoded in the medical context, how much more so is this the case when borrowed by Members of Parliament to describe the place where they interview their constituents. The time has come for this anachronistic and gory title to be dropped and replaced by a more suitable name such as "MP's advice centre" or "MP's consultation bureau".
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments