Fulminant Streptococcus pyogenes infection.

SIR,-I find myself in a strange position with regard to the current brain death debate. I am a doctor and also chairman of the Association of Community Health Councils. From where I am I think that I really can see both sides. I would like to suggest that the BMA (or the colleges) approach the BBC and apply to do an Openi Door programme under its community access scheme. No doubt the application could be backed up by the suggestion that the programme could be made available to medical schools, postgraduate centres, and patient and community groups as part of continuing education about transplants. This basis for action would avoid the problems of editorial freedom and allow the profession to produce its version of a balanced programme. I would obviously press the case for the involvement of patients and community interests in the making of the programme. Of course, these programmes are not transmitted at peak times but at least the resources of the BBC would be seen to be available. It might even be that some part of the BBC current affairs machine chose to feature parts of the programme at a peak time-subject, of course, to editorial judgments, news value, and so on. Editorial freedom is one of those things, like clinical freedom, that we all have to be prepared to die for; the pity at the moment is that it is only those with chronic renal failure who are having actually to make the sacrifice. I offer my admittedly naive suggestion as a way in which both the profession and the media could work together and climb up out of this mess rather than wait for either to climb down.