title: Dr Kelly's death and the subsequent political tailspin has blotted out almost every other conceivable element of public debate. What is happening to the summer discussion about health?
abstract: The dog days of August are usually given over to debates about global warming, the inadequacy of the UK transport system or water shortages. This year is different. Lord Hutton's inquiry into the death of weapons expert David Kelly has put a stop to all the silliness of that month and, one suspects, September and October as well.