Private Message to Poppy Pomfrey
Jan. 10th, 2013 06:38 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_antoninI woke having dreamt of our discussion of the other night, which generally means my subconscious has identified something my conscious mind has missed and is trying to get through to me by whatever means necessary.
If you will indulge me -- when you said that St M's wanted more regular data on my progress from you -- you said it was "your team of Healers" making a request. By that, did you mean the request arrived under Healer Kosta or Healer Allthorpe's seals, or was the parchment unsealed and signed "on behalf" by one or more of their juniors?
I do not necessarily begrudge them the data if it will lead to faster recovery or to others in my position receiving better care in the future, but some of what is being requested seems -- well, "intrusive and irrelevant" is as good a term as any. My suspicions are beginning to stir.
If you were in my shoes, would you accede to their request? Given that I do wish to advance the state of knowledge where possible, but not by sacrificing too much of my privacy, my convenience, or your time and effort that should belong to the students.
I also must ask: if I decline to cooperate with the monitoring they have requested from you, will that reflect badly upon you? Please be honest: I am aware you are a very dear friend of Auri's and for her sake I would not want to cause you grief.
Regards,
Antonin
If you will indulge me -- when you said that St M's wanted more regular data on my progress from you -- you said it was "your team of Healers" making a request. By that, did you mean the request arrived under Healer Kosta or Healer Allthorpe's seals, or was the parchment unsealed and signed "on behalf" by one or more of their juniors?
I do not necessarily begrudge them the data if it will lead to faster recovery or to others in my position receiving better care in the future, but some of what is being requested seems -- well, "intrusive and irrelevant" is as good a term as any. My suspicions are beginning to stir.
If you were in my shoes, would you accede to their request? Given that I do wish to advance the state of knowledge where possible, but not by sacrificing too much of my privacy, my convenience, or your time and effort that should belong to the students.
I also must ask: if I decline to cooperate with the monitoring they have requested from you, will that reflect badly upon you? Please be honest: I am aware you are a very dear friend of Auri's and for her sake I would not want to cause you grief.
Regards,
Antonin
no subject
Date: 2013-01-10 04:11 pm (UTC)You infer that you are a being mined as a subject by some junior staffer expanding his research portfolio? It could be. Or it may simply be that K & A have pushed off their correspondence onto junior staff in order to preserve time for their own researches.
Either way, you are quite right to guess that you are being studied. I can tell you that of late St M's have been under considerable pressure to show substantial evidence of 'productivity'. Apparently the Ministry crave notable breakthroughs; understandably, the Minister wishes our Protectorate to lead all nations in advancing the frontiers of magic.
It's a noble goal. At least in so far as it provides incentive for advancements in the state of knowledge. (I'm rather less concerned about diplomatic bragging rights, though I suppose that might hold more sway in your considerations?)
I agree that they are asking for quite a lot, some of it quite invasive (in all senses), and much of it with no clear relevance to direct treatment of your injuries. On top of that, they've asked for blanket permission for whatever further studies they might wish to introduce at some later point.
That last, at least, I would refuse if I myself were the patient. They ought to have to ask permission at each stage. (Imagine if they should decide that conclusive results demanded a post-mortem examination? One does not wish to have given blanket permission for whatever mad thing they might wish to do next. I am only half joking.)
I believe, too, that you would be well within your rights to enquire about the studies in which you are being used as a specimen. You are well-placed to press for information. As a fellow academician.
As for your last question, I believe it is immaterial what effect your cooperation or refusal might have on my relations with St Mungo's. Treatment decisions ought not be influenced by such extraneous matters. It runs counter to my oath to allow that sort of self-consideration to interfere. And in any case, it's quite impossible to guess whether it would have any effect at all, for good or ill, so we may rule that matter out of bounds.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-10 06:26 pm (UTC)I realise that today is a particularly busy one for you, and I am not wishing to add the following to today's agenda; however, I would like to put a proposal to you when you have the time to consider it.
This is related to a student in whose development I believe we share an interest.
(I do not expect a reply until you are at leisure.)
no subject
Date: 2013-01-10 10:18 pm (UTC)Thank you. Your perspective is invaluable in assisting me to evaluate their requests and I greatly appreciate the time you have taken to explain that perspective. I must think further on the merits of cooperation -- I do, in fact, sympathise with a desire to make one's mark on one's field of study, but (quite justifiably, I suppose) am wary of attempts to do so should they override my own primary goal, that being the restoration of my good health as much as is possible.
Your advice regarding blanket consent is quite sound, and likewise appreciated -- once I have a moment to recover from this hellacious day, I will write to them to refuse that blanket consent and request more information regarding the purpose to which this data, if collected, will be put.
I hope I did not offend with my extraneous considerations. It is not that I doubt your dedication to upholding your healer's oath; it is only that I have heard in passing of the difficulties you have had in the past with certain of St M's staff, and I would not wish to exascerbate those difficulties needlessly. If you would be blamed for my refusal, I would not necessarily accede -- but it would be a factor in my deliberations.
In regards to your followup, meanwhile: if (as I suspect) you mean Miss Perks, who has told me of her interest in pursuing your profession, there is very little I would wish to deny if I could be of some small use in her education. Today is, yes, not the day for it (and I am to be plagued with further visitations tomorrow as well), but shall I stop by for tea on Saturday afternoon so we can discuss?
Regards,
Antonin
no subject
Date: 2013-01-10 10:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-01-10 10:56 pm (UTC)Regards,
Antonin
no subject
Date: 2013-01-10 11:10 pm (UTC)I look forward to Saturday.
no subject
Date: 2013-01-11 02:07 am (UTC)I will see you on Saturday -- unless certain august personages attempt to hijack my time for the third day running.
Regards,
A