Whilst speaking as a humble counsellor, rather than a Mighty GP, even we lesser practitioners are instructed from the first day of our training that we must never impose our personal beliefs, religious or otherwise, on our clients. The people who come to me, in common with many who consult their GPs, are often vulnerable, emotional and afraid. I feel strongly that any healthcare professional who sees such a fragile being as a potential "sponge" who might just be ripe for a bit of brainwashing into their personal way of thinking, would not appear to be worthy of their position.

I shall be watching this space with great interest, and really hope that our little voices may have made a difference. I only wish that your sister were able to applaud your efforts, but I know she would be proud. Let us hope that the woods will thin out as they should.

This saga has made me so terribly angry and sad for you and your family - and I shall indeed send an e-mail. Most of us become so weary and cowed by the labyrinths woven by beauocrats with no empathy or interest in the real people involved in a situation like this, that they just roll over and give up. Please fight on, and I hope so much that your voice, on behalf of your dear sister, will now be heard. I have enormous respect for your determination and the love that you and your twin have for your sister, and hope that you will have the strength to continue on her behalf. We are with you in spirit.

If I may throw another point of view into this discussion (please)... I am not a doctor, but as a counsellor, I have for several years asked my clients whether they wish to record our sessions. Since people tend to come to me in varying states of distress (not unlike many worried people visiting their GP), I am aware that concentration and the ability to retain information can be in short supply. It is in both our interests that clients should gain something from their sessions with me, and the option to record what has been said has proved to be an extremely valuable tool for both myself and those who come to me for help. With few exceptions, my offer to record the sessions has been accepted and welcomed. With the opportunity to go over what has been discussed - sometimes several times - when people are at home and feeling more relaxed, they have been able to reflect on our conversations, and develop their thoughts and prepare a little of what they would like to talk about when we next meet. The decision rests entirely with the client whether they wish to make a recording of our time together, and if they ask for this to be done, they then have the choice as to whether they would like to take a hard copy and have the recording deleted, or whether they are happy for me to keep a record for my own use. From my own point of view, if permission is granted for each of us to retain an audio transcript, this can also be extremely useful. I do not like to take written notes during a counselling session as I feel that it is important to maintain eye contact, watch body language, etc, - and it can be distracting to see a pracitioner writing mysterious scribblings, the contents of which the client can only imagine! Whilst I attempt to commit to memory such details as dates, the names and ages of relevant family members, etc., and write up my notes as soon as the person leaves, there is always margin for error. How much more open if both the therapist and the person seeking help can hear an unedited version of their time together. Am I very naive in my view that a competent practitioner, confident in their work, would have no objection to their consultation being recorded?