Editorial Note: This is the fourth in the Lasagna series of posts - Not So Bad Pharma, April Fool in Harlow and Tragedy. It will be followed by The Empire of Humbug: Not so Bad Pharma, Brand Fascism & Witty A: Report to President. The first RCT In 1956, two of the creators of the modern RCT, Lou Lasagna and Michael Shepherd, met. The randomization in randomized placebo … [Read more...] about The Empire of Humbug: Bad Pharma
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The Tragedy of Lou Lasagna
Editorial Note: This is the 3rd of 6 posts. The first two are Not So Bad Pharma, & April Fool in Harlow. The rest will be The Empire of Humbug 1 & 2 and Brand Fascism. There is an independent debate on some of the issues, including my writing style, at Hearing Voices on 1boringoldman. In 1956, Lou Lasagna was on his way to being the most famous doctor in the United … [Read more...] about The Tragedy of Lou Lasagna
April Fool in Harlow: Anecdote Fishing in Harlow
This is the second of a series of six posts that began with Not So Bad Pharma and will continue with The Tragedy of Lou Lasagna, The Empire of Humbug 1, The Empire of Humbug 2 & Brand Fascism. To celebrate May Fool's Day last year The Scientist ran an article on Data Diving. This featured the work of Peter Doshi and Tom Jefferson and their efforts to get clinical trial … [Read more...] about April Fool in Harlow: Anecdote Fishing in Harlow
Not So Bad Pharma
The invitation from the London Review of Books to review Ben Goldacre’s Bad Pharma™ reads: “We were unsure, at first, what a review could add that isn't already in the book - scrappy summaries and bits of praise are not for us. The book is of sufficient importance that the main thing is to get someone who knows what they're talking about to present the material confidently.. … [Read more...] about Not So Bad Pharma
Six fired, one dead, no answers
This post was written by Alan Cassels and first appeared in Focus magazine online in early March. The full version is here. Alan was one of the creators of the Selling Sickness, or disease mongering idea. His recent book is "Seeking Sickness: Medical Screening and the Misguided Hunt for Disease. There is an editorial comment below. A year ago this month - March 28, 2012, to … [Read more...] about Six fired, one dead, no answers
Left Hanging: Suicide in Bridgend
The figures In the England and Wales there are roughly 5000 suicides in roughly 60 million people per year. This would until recently have led to around 2000 hangings per year, 34 hangings per million people per year, 3.5 per 100,000 people per year. Bridgend in South Wales has a population of 40,000. The greater Bridgend area has a population of 130,000. There should be 18 … [Read more...] about Left Hanging: Suicide in Bridgend
Prescription-only Homicide and Violence
These are the speaking notes for two talks given in Chicago on Monday February 18th and Tuesday February 19th. The S2, S3 in the text refers to slides which are available here: Slides 1 and Slides 2. The video is available here: Part 1 and Part 2. The first slides features RxISK.org where we have created a Violence Zone and want you to get anyone who may have been made violent … [Read more...] about Prescription-only Homicide and Violence
Not So Black: Ablixa and Homicidal Side Effects
If you don't want to know what happens in the movie Side Effects - do not read further. The post does not reveal all but does reveal important details. So now we know Soderbergh’s movie Side Effects is not so Black/Noir after all – more Fifty Shades of Grey. Emily Hawkins (Rooney Mara) is put on Ablixa by her psychiatrist Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) and while on it kills her … [Read more...] about Not So Black: Ablixa and Homicidal Side Effects
Prozac and SSRIs: Twenty-Fifth Anniversary
One prescription for every man, woman and child Prozac was approved in 1987 in the US, and launched in early 1988, followed by a clutch of other SSRIs. Twenty-five years later, we now have one prescription for an antidepressant for every single person in the West per year. Twenty-five years before Prozac, 1 in 10,000 of us per year was admitted for severe depressive … [Read more...] about Prozac and SSRIs: Twenty-Fifth Anniversary
The Antidepressant Era: The Movie
The Antidepressant Era was written in 1995, and first published in 1997. A paperback came out in 1999. It was close to universally welcomed – see reviews 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. It was favorably received by reviewers from the pharmaceutical industry, perhaps because it made clear that this branch of medical history had not been shaped by great men or great institutions … [Read more...] about The Antidepressant Era: The Movie