Letter: Food first

Sir: With regard to Susie Orbach's article 'Full of pain, starved of the right treatment' (11 May), if no one persuades or forces an anorectic to eat, they end up dead, like Michaela Kendall, or almost dead, like her sister, Samantha. Is Ms Orbach suggesting neither of these women has had access to good quality psychotherapy? I am sure they have.

Psychotherapy is, of course, an important and very necessary part of treating any anorectic patient, but it cannot replace food. We should not be agonising about what is past, or about her long- term prognosis.

Someone should be feeding Samantha Kendall, anywhere and anyhow, but today.

Yours sincerely,

DEE DAWSON

Medical Director

Rhodes Farm Clinic

London, NW7

11 May