For the first time I interview a friend of mine, with whom I worked as a registrar in Glasgow.  He shares two stories which tell important lessons about always thinking about the individual, even when considering the wider health of the nation.  The first child had polio which occurred as a result of polio vaccination.  This was a serious problem for the child and her family but I discuss the incredible benefits that have accrued from the introduction of polio vaccine. Nowadays this wouldn't occur because we no longer use a live polio virus in the vaccine. The second story is about a boy with Down syndrome who underwent cardiac surgery - offering this in the 1980s was very rare and we discuss the important changes in attitudes that have occurred since then. Happily in modern times the rights of the individual are paramount and we are moving away from making value judgments about children and adults based on diagnosis.   We're not there yet but progress is being made!