A recent BBC File on Four program on Antidepressants in Children, presented by Paul Connolly, has drawn disparaging comments on posts here. Here is some background detail. I was interviewed for the program. My messages were as follows: That the trials of Prozac in children were identical to the trials of other SSRIs and other antidepressant drugs in this age group - … [Read more...] about In the Name of the BBC
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Everyone is Equal?
Editorial: This post comes from a Belgian colleague. Belgium's best-selling pop singer Stromae has been talking about his drug-induced illness all over the media since last year. He claims the anti-malaria drug Lariam (mefloquine) made him instantly psychotic and caused long-term anxiety problems which have already persisted for 3 years after stopping the drug, and still … [Read more...] about Everyone is Equal?
What to do about Suicide
These words are from David Foster Wallace. I don't know if he was speaking about the depression he had or the akathisia that antidepressants can cause. Maybe he didn't know and this contributed to his suicide. This post needs to be read in conjunction with What to do about Sex on RxISK. This post is about structural aspects to the problems not just of sexual dysfunction … [Read more...] about What to do about Suicide
Villains and Heroes: Academic Thuggery
Editorial Note: This post from Leemon McHenry celebrates Marion Lilley and the International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine. It has a direct link to the issues in the last two posts on suicide in children and how and why we hide problems - The Spectre of Dissent. Most people trust that medical and scientific journals are reliable sources of knowledge. In the age … [Read more...] about Villains and Heroes: Academic Thuggery
The Spectre of Dissent
The last post The Greatest Failure of What Used to be called Medicine provoked a lot of comment - or at least the photographic images in it did. There was little discussion about the content of the post and what to do about the spectre of bureaucrats in the guideline and the regulatory apparatus hanging together when it comes to something like children hanging after … [Read more...] about The Spectre of Dissent
The Greatest Failure in What used to be Called Medicine
A little over a year ago, the British Minister for Health, Jeremy Hunt, said children's mental health was the greatest failing of the NHS. Teenagers, primarily girls, are being seen by family doctors and referred to the secondary mental health services. The waits are so long, they attempt suicide by the time they get seen. A growing number succeed. This is happening … [Read more...] about The Greatest Failure in What used to be Called Medicine
Thalidomide: The Ultimate Conspiracy?
There were relatively few comments on The Thalidomide Catastrophe. There were however more people getting in touch directly. Some said they were going to buy the book. Here are some more reasons to think about buying. The Once and Future Nightmare Many seem to think thalidomide is an old story they more or less know everything about? Everyone knows for instance who made … [Read more...] about Thalidomide: The Ultimate Conspiracy?
The Thalidomide Catastrophe
Editorial Note: This is adapted from a piece by Martin Johnson who with colleagues has just published The Thalidomide Catastrophe. This is available as of today on Amazon and at Onwards and Upwards. This is one of the great books about what the twentieth century was all about. A must buy, costing almost nothing. Child abuse and the harms of not being believed - engaged … [Read more...] about The Thalidomide Catastrophe
Hanami & HPV Statement
Medwatcher Japan recently convened a symposium on the injuries caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) Vaccines. Medwatcher are one of the most impressive pharmacovigilance groups in the world today. The statement from the meeting, issued just as Hanami (cherry-blossom) season ends, again notes the injuries gratuitously inflicted by bureaucrats and others - in this … [Read more...] about Hanami & HPV Statement
The Horrific Effects of Not Being Believed
By most accounts Jose Mario Bergolio is a remarkable person. It came as a shock to his fans then a few months ago when he visiting Chile he came out against victims of child abuse. The issue centered on one bishop whom survivors of abuse fingered as complicit with what had happened. JMB obviously liked the man and took the position he was innocent until proven guilty. When … [Read more...] about The Horrific Effects of Not Being Believed