OBNOXIOUS AND ARROGANT
I just read your interview with Mr Suzuki ("Meet the 'greatest living Canadian,'" May 2008, Vol 5 No 5) and it backs up what I've heard of how obnoxious and arrogant he is. He spoke here in Calgary recently and wouldn't take questions from the audience.

With regard to returning to medical practice all he could think of is putting his finger up a man's ass? I think doctors do a lot more than that. His comments are an insult to those who train hard to become MDs. And what about his comments regarding Paris Hilton? Again, very insulting and rude. Who does he think he is?? I could say the same about him and his nonsense global warming hype. The fact is he isn't a "great Canadian" at all, but a prideful and arrogant snob.

One other thing: As for his opinion on Cuba and its doctors, why can't they leave the country they live in? The training is paid for, but it comes with a price — their freedom.

To compare an authoritarian, Communist island to the West is insane, really. If he likes Cuba so much he should move there and see how much he gets paid.

Merle Terlesky, Calgary, AB

A WAVE OF INSITE
Thank you for publishing our short editorial ("The case for Insite," May 2008, Vol 5 No 5). Canada can do so much in this area given the excellent research that is taking place in our country.

Dr Keith Martin, Member of Parliament, Esquimalt - Juan de Fuca, BC

STUNTED GROWTH
I agree with the statement in "Do teachers push docs to overprescribe for ADHD?" (Sept 15, 2007, Vol 4 No 15) that drugs to treat ADHD are not exactly benign. (Is there a drug that is?) However, I was not aware that there is evidence about stunted growth. Please can you direct me as to where that statement comes from?

Dr Ayaz Ramji, Prince Albert, SK

EDITOR'S NOTE: According to the prescribing information for Ritalin, "consistently medicated children... have a temporary slowing in growth rate (on average, a total of about 2cm less growth in height and 2.7kg less growth in weight over 3 years), without evidence of growth rebound during this period of development."

PRICK PERFORMANCE
I'm not certain Owen Dyer's article on back pain (and the study) show exactly what they claim to show ("Acupuncture outperforms physiotherapy for back pain," Oct 15, 2007, Vol 4 No 17).

First, true acupuncture is more effective than sham acupuncture. The sham method showed about 44% effectiveness, true acupuncture 47%. If you are the patient, that approximately 10% makes a difference.

Also, it depends where those "sham" points are located. Were those "pinpricks" truly random? Even if they were, some would have been bound to hit a real or related point. It's not the number of patients in the study or the scholarly apparatus but the perspective from which the conclusions are made that I question.

Leonie Rosenstiel, PhD, Albuquerque, NM