I’ve had some truly fascinating emails in response to this column on PMT. I had forgotten completely about this BMJ paper, from 1953, which you can view for free if you register. The first author is Katharina Dalton, who is famous for advocating progesterone to ‘treat’ PMT, and which is now recognised as being non […]
Continue Reading →Mixtard 30: Novartis gets it wrong
The Drugs and Therapeutics Bulletin is campaigning against Novartis’ decision to stop production of a particular type of insulin – one which has been around for years, is very reliable, and which is used by around 90,000 patients. Novartis say that the use of this insulin – Mixtard 30- is dropping: and that this type of insulin […]
Continue Reading →Waky up time: pathology isn’t black and white
..and if I remember much from histology, it often comes in shades of pink. The NYT today has an interesting article; shock horror – cancer that might not be. It focuses on the DCIS phenonema – if you have been reading for a while you’ll know that ductal carcinoma in situ is a ‘cancer’ that […]
Continue Reading →The lack of success of GP commissioning
Just read the CQC report on Take Care Now, the organisation run by a majority of GPs, and which employed a German doctor who killed a patient. Why does the coalition think that more will be better?
Continue Reading →Will GP commissioning help patients get better?
I think not. I’ve spent a bit of time reading the new White Paper and associated fluff, I conclude that there are possibly two good things in it. I’ll get to them. But, oh, the jargon! And the rest of it! What on earth does ‘equity and excellence: liberating the NHS’ actually mean? I’m really […]
Continue Reading →If you’re over 65…
and you live in Scotland, you have something in common with people who have been imprisoned for 5 years or more, people who have been detained in borstal, and people on bail in connection with criminal proceedings. You are “not qualified for jury service”. I find this very ageist. Judges can go on until they […]
Continue Reading →Homeopathy: witch hunting or waste of money
etc, etc. I am getting quite bored of the homeopathy debate. It should have moved on a bit, really. So here is the state of play today: James Le Fanu in today’s Telegraph says the BMA, who have recently voted for NHS funding for homeopathy to be withdrawn, aren’t listening to patients but are instead […]
Continue Reading →Overtreatment is fact, say Pelican
Well done to the Pelican charity who have said, of prostate cancer, in a press release: “Pelican is concerned that many men with low risk cancer are being over-treated, with resultant negative side effects of urinary and sexual dysfunction. Pelican is now directly funding clinical research that could make diagnosis and treatment for prostate cancer […]
Continue Reading →Medical professionalism in the USA
I’m most impressed at the unabashed and vigorous plea for ‘medical professionalism’ when it comes to doctors and their relationships with pharmaceutical and other commercial companies in the US. It’s in this report, just out, from the Association of American Medical Colleges. It places the need for clear information about potential financial and other biases in […]
Continue Reading →Statins: benefit (again) overstated?
Regular readers will know my ongoing concerns about statins: these drugs now make up one of the most frequently prescribed medications, and especially to well people. The benefits for people who have had a heart attack or stroke are one thing, but the potential benefit to people who are scored at being as high risk […]
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