This Continues the Spotlight on the Suicides series. Astonished by the conclusion of Stephen O'Neill's inquest, I wrote to Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister, copied to the Ministers of Health in Ireland, Simon Harris, in Wales Vaughan Gething, and in England Matt Hancock, along with the Danish MEP, Margrete Auken, the European Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly and Martina … [Read more...] about Spotlight on the Suicides: The Politicians
Spotlight on the Suicides: The Hospital Doctors
This post continues the Spotlight on the Suicides series. There were 8 named people in Stephen O'Neill's medical record, or who made entries in the record between the time of first admission and his death. He appears to have told most of them that in his view the sertraline he had been put on and took two doses of had had a disastrous effect on him. There were likely up to … [Read more...] about Spotlight on the Suicides: The Hospital Doctors
Spotlight on the Suicides: The Family Doctor
Continuing the Spotlight on the Suicides Series I have largely avoided naming names and will continue to avoid putting names in the frame but Stephen's family doctor's name, Dr Brannigan, is already in the public domain, and I've made it clear that the coroner thought highly of him and the whole point behind these posts is to show how even a decent doctor can end up in a … [Read more...] about Spotlight on the Suicides: The Family Doctor
Spotlight on the Suicides: The Coroner
This continues the Spotlight on Suicides Series - The photograph is of Patrick McGurgan - the coroner. Mr McGurgan appeared to be a decent man. He treated everyone with courtesy and appeared to be listening. His conclusions at the end of the inquest provoked a correspondence from me that will be posted later in this sequence in its entirety - there is nothing in this that … [Read more...] about Spotlight on the Suicides: The Coroner
Spotlight on the Suicides: Overture
This is part 2 of Spotlight on the Suicides. In February 2017, I received the email below. The email address gave no hint of where it came from - it could have been any English speaking country but the word Trust in the second and fourth paragraphs suggested England. The details seemed clear enough for me to respond that the coroner would have to request my input and I … [Read more...] about Spotlight on the Suicides: Overture
Spotlight on the Suicides in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has been at the centre of European, even world politics, over the last three years, as a result of a referendum in Britain that was held with little, if any, thought of the possible consequences for Ireland. If an alien zooming towards Earth burst through the atmosphere and was faced with the Western European Archipelago (WEA), it might figure these islands … [Read more...] about Spotlight on the Suicides in Northern Ireland
Women, Men and Drugs
I’ve been a fan of Placido Domingo for 40 years or more. His role alongside Teresa Stratas in Zeffirelli’s La Traviata (if its emotion you want – one of the greatest movies ever made) can still bring tears to my eyes. I always liked his voice more than Pavarotti’s, Carreras, or others – and he looked much better as Alfredo. Pretty well everyone else suffered when I heard them … [Read more...] about Women, Men and Drugs
Saint Candida’s Day
This is the final post in the Bruce Willis series - see Osama, Obama and Reckless. It's the point behind the series. And it comes on the 28th anniversary of the original event. Train Tracks Its 1991. Two trains are heading toward each other on the same piece of track. One has a shiny badge that was new for trainspotters - Evidence Based Medicine (EBM). It had been … [Read more...] about Saint Candida’s Day
329 Deja Vu; We’re all Northern Irish now
Study 329 is the most famous clinical trial of all time - see Study329.org. The only trial with two diametrically competing versions of what happened in print at the same time. 329 (March 29) was the date Britain was supposed to leave the European Union - but didn't - with close to GUBU consequences. And its 329 years since the Battle of the Boyne, which effectively … [Read more...] about 329 Deja Vu; We’re all Northern Irish now
Reckless MP causes Brexit
Editorial Note: The image featuring Samantha Cameron and her husband, David, comes from the front cover of Private Eye, a British satirical magazine, who might have thought twice about adding to the pressure on Cameron if they had known what was going to happen next. This is the third in a Bruce Willis series - See Osama saves Millions and Obama kills Millions. Its … [Read more...] about Reckless MP causes Brexit