By David Tuller, DrPH Cochrane–formerly called the Cochrane Collaboration–is respected worldwide for its systematic reviews of medical treatments. These reviews are often cited as the definitive source of information about treatment efficacy and safety. In taking on the thankless task of assessing the data on commonly used interventions, Cochrane performs an invaluable public health service …
By David Tuller, DrPH Jonathan Edwards, an emeritus professor of medicine at University College London, recently sent a letter to Professor Fiona Watt, executive chairwoman of the UK Medical Research Council. The MRC was the main funder of PACE and has continued to defend the trial and its conduct. In recent years, Professor Edwards has …
Trial By Error: Professor Edwards’ Letter to MRC’s Fiona Watt Read More »
By David Tuller, DrPH Last week, The Times ran an article about the open letter to The Lancet concerning the PACE trial, quickly followed by a piece in The BMJ. This morning, I e-mailed the following letter to Fiona Godlee, editor-in-chief of The BMJ and editorial director at BMJ. I cc’d officials at the Health …
Trial By Error: Another Letter to BMJ’s Dr Godlee Read More »
By David Tuller, DrPH Earlier today I sent the following letter to the e-mail address I found at the website of Red Whale/GP Update, which recently disseminated a recruitment ad for FITNET-NHS. I blogged about it on Monday. I cc’d officials at the Health Research Authority, the agency that regulate research ethics. ********** Dear Red …
Trial By Error: My Letter to Red Whale/GP Update Read More »
By David Tuller, DrPH A British medical education company has recently disseminated a recruitment ad for a high-profile pediatric study of treatment for what it calls CFS/ME. The recruitment ad’s headline describes the intervention being investigated as effective, without caveat or reservation. (Full headline: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS/ME): effective home treatment for teenagers) To back …
Trial By Error: FITNET-NHS Recruitment Ad Promotes “Recovery” Read More »
By David Tuller, DrPH Two years ago, the Mayo Clinic referred Lisa Alioto, a patient diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, to a three-day rehabilitation program–a mini-version of a multi-week program designed for those with a grab-bag of chronic pain and related conditions. These conditions, as listed on the Mayo website, include fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, …
