Smacc

Anthony Holley and Marietjie ‘MJ’ Slabbert debate the value of prehospital doctors in trauma. Anthony argues that doctors in the prehospital setting add little value. He does so with the upmost respect for prehospital doctors and having worked in this setting himself. He makes the point that across the globe, the employment of doctors in the prehospital setting is a rarity. Working in this environment is diverse and every situation encountered requires a different skillset. This presents a logistical challenge. Anthony continues to discuss the evidence, or lack thereof, in this space. He raises the point of competing interests from paramedics, flight nurses and doctors themselves. This leads to apples being compared to oranges most of the time. Anthony goes on to suggest all the advanced clinical interventions that are necessary in prehospital situations can be competently undertaken by paramedics. MJ argues for the negative. In doing so, she concedes that the evidence base for prehospital medicine is scarce.