There are doctors and doctors, but GPs often work harder

I am a GP and also hold a PhD from the ANU. All medical doctors complete at least five years (and up to seven) of university education followed by a one year "internship" working under supervision, mostly in a hospital. After this a doctor is qualified with "general registration" with Ahpra. To qualify as a specialist in general practice requires a further three years (minimum) of training. It takes nine years to qualify as a specialist GP.

I completed seven years of hospital based training prior to my GP training. This is not unusual. Many doctors take the opportunity to learn multiple skills for when they become a GP. I then completed a PhD over three years specialising in primary care research.

Dr Douglas Mackenzie (Letters, January 5) argued as to whether doctoral training versus medical training makes one a "real" doctor. Being both myself, I feel the argument is redundant. The situation dictates who is the "real" doctor. If I need healthcare then a medical doctor is needed. For scientific debate regarding sedimentary rocks an academic doctor would be best.

GPs are often the brunt of arguments that seek to belittle their profession. This is despite the fact healthcare systems based on strong primary care provide the most equitable, efficient and effective care.

Far from requiring solely a "good memory", high-quality GP care is one of the most challenging of medical specialties where we look after anyone, with any health problem, often under circumstances of uncertainty. General practice is a high-quality medical specialty providing much needed primary care to the Canberra community.

"PhDs are poorly understood by a lot of people and it's hard to understand unless you haven't done it yourself or been close to someone who has," Dr Cox said. ("PhD theses branching out", canberratimes.com.au, January 4)

On a few occasions I have been "close to" those in casualty where the new term "emergency department" defines it to perfection. And I "understand" a youngish, overworked doctor of medicine does not have the luxury of Dr Mackenzie's (Letters, January 5) "writing a thesis containing original and unique findings worthy of peer-reviewed publication".

Their "peer review" occurs in those (often imperceptible) pregnant pauses lasting seconds where the nurses and other medical staff stop and await the "real" doctor's directions. Life, death, length of recovery and quality of life then ensue. As one nurse later remarked: "Thank God I am not a doctor".

Or, as one of my neighbours said after helping a mate out as a remote locum: "I did not expect my first helicopter ride would require dangling on a rope above a container ship in heaving seas".

Dr Douglas Mackenzie (Letters, January 5) believes a PhD qualification is more worthy of the title doctor than most medical degrees because qualifying as a GP only needs a good memory and takes less time and effort than a PhD qualification, while the latter generally needs more hours of study and research and an original thesis.

Having produced his PhD thesis, say in education, sociology, political "science" or some such he can spend the rest of his life arguing about it.

The GP, on the other hand, is likely to spend his working life trying to stay abreast of the latest techniques in maintaining, improving or repairing those of the rest of us and advising us accordingly.

For my money, there are few nobler causes

When COVID-19 started its insidious march across Australia and businesses closed and jobs were lost, the federal government acted quickly and responsibly on behalf of the national community and introduced various financial packages such as JobSeeker and JobKeeper.

At the time of introducing those packages and others, PM Scott Morrison advised that they were not permanent packages and would have an end by date.

Since March many billions of dollars has been spent on assisting businesses and individuals. Most financial packages have been extended past the original end date but eventually they will have to stop and those on welfare will have to go back to their pre-COVID-19 payment.

Many were on double the payment due to the pandemic and have got used to that extra money but also knew it was always going to stop. Maybe there is a need for pre-COVID-19 welfare packages to be looked at but people also have accept the fact that they were always aware the additional payments would eventually stop.

The federal government has done a fantastic job, as have state and territory governments, in helping the community but it cannot go on forever. Since the pandemic started globally, Australia has been the shining light of all countries in helping the population financially and also in the prevention of the spread of the virus, with a small number of sad outbreaks. Rather than demonising the government, they should be thanked.

It was reported on January 4 that the federal government's new Office of the Special Investigator has formally begun its work. References were also made to the difficulty of securing convictions.

It is my belief that a focus solely on convictions is wrong. Equally (probably more) important is identifying why the government failed to introduce meaningful measures in army units' preparation for war in Afghanistan to ensure that what was known to have happened in Vietnam, was not able to occur again.

In 2005, I received assurance from the Minister for Defence that this was the case. Will the minister today give the same assurance?

The stench emanating from Lake Tuggeranong is just as bad, if not worse, than last summer. Why then, has not the visibly obnoxious research station, positioned in the lake by ANU research scientists more than two years ago, and financed by the ACT taxpayer, not been removed?

It has now been more than 12 months since The Canberra Times reported, in effect, that the scientific experiment had been unable to provide any findings of value.

It is covered in mould, some parts are submerged, and hundreds of seagulls and cormorants are using it as a roosting sight each night thus contributing to the already excessive phosphorus levels.

If the ANU is not prepared to remove it, then perhaps the City Rangers can.'

Albanese's assessment of Morrison ("Albanese in 'fight mode', labels PM a fake", canberratimes.com.au, January 5) that he is a fake seems appropriate. He doesn't deserve to be riding so high in the polls. He is reactionary and not visionary.

For example, Morrison was slow to respond to the catastrophic bushfires this time last year, was slow to respond to and underestimated the COVID-19 pandemic, (he was going to the football the day before he realised we had a problem and opposed state border closures. What could possibly go wrong with that?), was slow to acknowledge the catastrophic fires were due to climate change, slow to accept new technologies related to renewable energy and ditch coal, slow to deliver a meaningful federal integrity commission, ignoring pay and conditions for casual workers and dismantling them for other workers, and slow to have transparent and accountable grants schemes.

Morrison has only reacted to an issue when under pressure to do so (usually kicking and screaming). Unfortunately for Australia, this government is bogged down in the past. It has no vision, no plan, and no clues on how to drive Australia's future.

When iron ore prices dry up, we'll see him for what he is. A fake.

In the recently released conversation about "finding" votes in Georgia, President Trump forgot to mention looking under the cushions on the couch. Besides a small number of coins, I am sure he will find those votes that he thinks have been misplaced.

You cannot demand 11,780 votes be found just because you want them. That's not how democracy works in any free country.

This nightmare only has a fortnight to go although it will be an eventful fortnight full of claims, confusion and chaos but the future looks brighter.

I sympathise with S Kennedy's treasurer/CPI dilemma (Letters, Jan 6). I received a similar letter about my pension but mine was not as confusing. PSS/CSS pensions are reviewed every six months. The PBS is reviewed annually. S Kennedy seems to have forgotten a pension increase in July 2020.

History tells us empires rise and then fall into insignificance. Examples include the Romans, the Ottomans and the British. Events in Washington show the USA has joined the list and is now on the fast track to oblivion. Thanks Donald.

It will be a long time before America earns back the right to call itself "united". Putting their President in jail would be a good place to start.

What is happening in Washington is beyond belief. The demonstration was encouraged by the people at the top who have ignored the constitution. What will happen on January 20 if President Trump refuses to vacate the White House ahead of the inauguration of President Biden?

After what has happened in the Capitol building I better understand why his niece Mary Trump described Trump as "the most dangerous man in the world". This display of mob rule is all Trump's making. He incited his supporters to embark on social upheaval and violence. The sooner he's gone the better for America and indeed the world.

With the massive turnouts at Trump's rallies, often in challenging weather conditions, and with many believing he would be re-elected ("We cannot lose") it would be understandable if some, not used to voting, did not vote. They will now have to wait another four years. They can't blame others for the final count.

In the middle of a global pandemic we the people stage Trump's last stand.

So this is what the bastion of democracy looks like: armed thugs storming the legislature to prevent it doing its job. Trump and his supporters should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. US democracy has been badly tarnished. The Chinese and Russian leaders will be laughing behind their COVID-19 masks.

Many will say the invasion of the Capitol building was all about Trump. That would be wrong.

Trump could not have pursued his poisonous and dangerous agenda without Republican facilitators; opportunists like Ted Cruz; prevaricators like Mitch McConnell and those who were just too scared for their electoral future to call out his lies and lunacy.

They all share the blame. There's a lesson here for all democracies.

It is no surprise a TV performer could become president of the USA. The Presidential electoral process is like a soap opera, albeit not helped by a childish incumbent. It has been a year from the start of the campaign to now. The process needs to be simplified. Do I even need to mention mid-term elections?