I would like to thank Professor Simon Wessely for his interest in my piece entitled "What is it About Psychiatry?".  It is heart warming to note that, as  Director of King's Centre for Military Health Research, he is taking such a keen interest in children with ME.
 
However, I feel I must point out that the title he gave his response ("Libelling Paediatricians"),  is misleading.  According to the Collins Concise Dictionary, libel means "the publication of defamatory matter" and it can only be defamatory if it is not true.
 
From the entire article, the professor was only moved to comment on the  reference to a child suffering ME being placed in a swimming pool where he very nearly drowned.   It was but a small section and the rest (99% referenced) spelt out quite a number of psychiatric horrors which the professor presumably thought were perfectly in order since he chose not to comment.
 
As for the "let 'em sink or swim" strategy, I am puzzled as to what made the professor think I was referring to the child in the Isle of Man. The "therapy" is not unique to that one case as I am sure he is aware.
 
 
Gurli Bagnall
URSULA@xtra.co.nz