‘May we come in?’
I usher them in.
‘We understand that you have written a book entitled Scalpels Out?
‘Yes. That is so.’
‘We have had a complaint. A woman has reported that it has caused her deep psychological damage.’
‘Well, there is nothing sadistic or malicious in it … a couple of light sexual episodes … ’
‘No, it is the cover which has upset her.’
I pick up a copy of the book.
‘That Barbie doll with the noose.’
‘The noose has a label on it, “Return to HR after use.” It is clearly only a figurative hanging.’
‘If that doll were a policewoman, I would feel threatened.’
‘Then you would be misconstruing it, because it is saying doctors are being hanged, not should be hanged.’
The real irony of this interview is that the book is about exactly this, that you cannot say or do anything today, without someone who does not like it pretending they are offended. If you wish to live a trouble-free life, you have to go round treading on egg- shells.
‘Of the 350 other readers of it, one said, “Poor Barbie” and the others if anything, said it was a good cover, eye- catching.’
‘It has been published, so it is too late for us to block it, but if you write another book, I suggest you are more careful what you put on the cover.’
This book is just a story of three young lady doctors who end up in trouble for just such absurdly politically sensitive errors. There is nothing vicious about it. I suspect it is just too near the truth. In fact, is this woman who complained just some cover for angry health service managers? Probably not, but the chances are not zero. 
Are we living in a totalitarian state? Not far off.

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