From the Editor
Welcome to the final issue of 2016. One of the roles (and sometimes chores) of the editor is commissioning papers. There are three in this issue with which I am especially pleased.
Often the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine appears to be awarded for basic scientific research on some arcane aspect of biology. ?At first glance, this year’s award to Ohsumi for his work on autophagy in yeast seems to fall squarely into this category. However, as Frake and Rubinsztein explain, Ohsumi’s work elucidates an important aspect of cell biology that may have important implications for clinical practice in due course.
Smith and Hughes write about the Book Club run by junior and senior members of the neurology department in Cardiff. They offer practical advice on how to run a book club to ensure the participation of all members of the unit, and reflect on how it has influenced their approach to patients. The JRCPE would be interested in hearing from other book clubs.
Seamus O’Mahony, the JRCPE’s associate editor for history and medical humanities, has written what I believe to be an important book, The Way We Die Now. ?At least in the British Isles, medical writing on dying and death seems to be dominated by the perspective of the palliative care physician, whereas most of us seem destined to die on an acute medical or care of the elderly ward under the care of a busy physician. O’Mahony reflects on this in his book and paper. The JRCPE would like to congratulate him on becoming Cork Person of the Month in November for his book: well deserved, Seamus!
Martyn Bracewell
Editor
