Geoff
I think we are actually on the same side of the argument without realizing it. I am a doctor, a pediatrician and radiologist and my department's head, my mother was a nurse, my sister is a nurse, I worked for several years as an orderly, volunteer or other caretaker in various hospitals before I became a doctor. I know just exactly what being a nurse is all about and how important a profession it is, and I have nothing but the utmost respect for the nursing profession, and those I work with would undoubtedly tell you that I am a regular Joe, not like most doctors in relating to those other medical professionals I work with.

My mother was valedictorian of her high school class at age 17, graduating a full year ahead of her original class, having been bumped ahead a year because of her intelligence. She went on to nursing school in the late 40's becasue that was pretty much all that was available to her at the time, and worked as a nurse well into her 60's. BUt I have no doubt had she had the opportunity and support she would rather have gone to medical school and become a doctor---there is no doubt she had the chops for it. All that changed in the 60's and 70's with the womens liberation movement and things are entirely different today than ever before. Nursing is a noble profession and one to take great pride in, and if your wife chose that for her career I salute her dedication and sacrifice for the wellbeing of others around her.

My original comment which you quoted was intended to show how prior to womens lib women were glass-ceilinged across the board from even trying to attain certian positions of greater power and control in the world, stopped from being equals to thier male counterparts simply because of their sex. All that changed, not overnight but over the last few decades since womens lib lit the fuse. It is simply a matter of equal opportunity to make whatever choice a person, man or woman, wants to choose. Your wife chose to be a nurse, and I commend her for her choice and duty in a caring profession. I hope you understand that my comments were in no way meant to denigrate those who chose that profession for their life's dedication.

But I will stand by my original comments as stated and in the context that they were stated as correct and appropriate and in no way denigrating to you or your wife. I am sorry that you misconstrued my comments as being in any way demeaning to the profession of nursing or your wife personally.

Jeffrey Foster, MD
Univ of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Class of 1984