The Editor, Sir:

With reference to Thursday's editorial dealing with the roles of doctors and nurses, I would like to say that nurses and doctors are expected to work together for the common benefit of the patients, their clients.

It does not help the purpose to engage in mudslinging and character assassination.

Nurses make a whole lot of errors and I can name but a few from my clinical experience. However, the modern-day nurse who says that she is not subservient to the doctor is getting it all wrong because the doctor is the primary reason a patient goes to the hospital or clinic.

The pharmacist has a greater responsibility in checking a doctor's prescription for errors since they have been trained in this field.

What does a nurse know about pharmacology, pharmacognosis or pharmaceuticals.

Nurses should concentrate on the duties which they are being paid for, namely, checking the patient's vital signs and giving the prescribed treatment as directed by the doctors.

However, they don't always do this well, instead they busy themselves with duties which are not their responsibilities.

I am, etc.,

Dr. ADEMOLA ODUNFA