Madam, – Queen Elizabeth’s ancestor, George III, granted a charter to the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 1784, since then the college has become one of the world’s leading international medical schools, bringing immense prestige to Ireland.
The arrest of doctors in Bahrain and their forthcoming trial before a military court has been condemned worldwide (“College urged to help free medics in Bahrain”, Home News, May 16th), but the RCSI says meekly that it will not comment “on a political situation”. This will not do.
The Medical University of Bahrain, where many of the doctors trained, is is a constituent component of the RCSI; its graduates are awarded the Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (LRCSI) and the Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (LRCPI) plus the degrees of MB BCh BAO.
With its alumni in almost every country in the world – many in senior positions – the RCSI is in a unique position to influence events. It cannot stand idly by. – Yours, etc,