CHOICE WORDS
The term "whistleblower" in reference to Dr John O'Connor ("Health Canada muzzles oilsands whistleblower," March 30, 2007, Vol 4, No 6, page 27) conjures up someone sneaking around behind his employer's back, revealing their secrets. This is not the case with Dr O'Connor.

He isn't blowing any whistles on companies who have placed their 'faith' in his discretion and isn't bound by 'confidentiality' clauses to these companies. He's a doctor of medicine bound to his patients by his ethical tenets and sense of decency, and is answerable only to his peers in his practice of medicine.

I therefore think it is misleading to represent what he does as "whistleblowing" when it is rather telling the truth of a situation that is already known to the people who are affected by it. In doing so, he is not in breach of any law in Canada that I am aware of. But I can vouch without fear of contradiction that those who vilify what he's doing are.

Catherine Boyle, LLB, LLM

BREATHLESS ANTICIPATION
I read your article "Country kids no longer immune to asthma" (May 30, 2007, Vol 4, No 10, page 8) with interest. The study is intriguing, and I agree that antibiotics are over-prescribed. But I think the article should have addressed the other risk factors evaluated in the study. What control was there for the increased chance of asthma following early respiratory infections? Did rural kids have higher RSV infection rates? Could asthma-promoting respiratory viruses be on the increase in rural communities, or combining with pollen effects to increase risk? Could increasing pesticide load be affecting their immune systems?

Dr C Knox, Castlegar, BC

ON THE BACK BURNER
It's good to see coverage of the Manitoba election ("Manitoba election leaves medicine in the hallway," June 15, 2007, Vol 4, No 11, page 17) — but still disappointing that healthcare did not have a more prominent role in the election itself.

Dr Jon Gerrard, Leader, Manitoba Liberal Party

MENTAL BLOCK
Regarding the article, "Michael Kirby steps out of the shadows" (June 15, 2007, Vol 4, No 11, page 1), I find your question — "You must have been happy when the Tories threw some money at tackling mental health stigma in their last budget?" — utterly offensive. So long as mental health remains separate from physical health, segregated from mainstream healthcare, a political issue rather than a health issue, change is not possible. "Out of the Shadows at Last" is not a positive view. Into the light is.

Harold A Maio, Fort Myers, FL

CLARIFICATION
The article "Housing bubbles don't make me feel fine" (June 15, Vol 4, No 11, page 34) referred to Avery Shenfeld as a University of Toronto economist. His current title is CIBC World Markets Senior Economist.