It’s used here, on Breastlight’s home page. If you search for them on Google, it comes up; “Breastlight TM; breast exam, breast checking, breast screening..” I’d like to know what kinds of things come to mind when we are told this device is for ‘earlier detection’. ( I know what I think, but […]
Continue Reading →The Advertising Standards Authority – fit for purpose?
I’ve just had a complaint responded to. The company concerned will now apparently withdraw their non evidenced based claim that their product “helps detect cancer early”. This claim has been made for some time, it’s nonsense, and it’s right that it goes. But: the letter from the ASA says that since the company will voluntarily amend their […]
Continue Reading →Why I’m not a businessman
In reply to Dirk Vinegar on the Guardian, who says “It is often forgotten that GPs are not salaried NHS clones, but independent business people, most of whom happen to be contracted to the NHS for the main source of their income.” This is important to get right, because the Health Bill will make it […]
Continue Reading →Read your medical records
Essentially, having access to your own medical records is a good thing. The government have made it clear that this is now a priority and intend to work to make online access for patients so that patients can freely access their own notes. However: I think as it stands it’s unlikely to be very helpful. […]
Continue Reading →Political “collaboration” with drug companies
David Cameron is apparently about to announce that private companies – i.e., pharmaceutical companies – will be able to access NHS patient data. Over the last couple of years, I have had concerns that the opt-out system into electronic medical records is wrong, and should instead be an opt-in system. I’ve been concerned that the kind of […]
Continue Reading →False hope and real living
The Quackometer has had some rather unpleasant emails following his criticism of the Burzynski clinic. The issue is that some people wanted to kindly raise money for a child with cancer to be treated there, when the evidence for the proffered interventions is questionable. Other people have examined the science very well. There is something […]
Continue Reading →Client or patient?
I want to be a patient, and to treat patients. Following on from twitter discussion, here’s something I prepared earlier.
Continue Reading →Mind and complementary medicines
I’m always looking for good sources of information to share with patients. Sometimes people share what they’ve found with me. My criteria: well explained, fair, evidence based, updated, and clear about uncertainties. And so I must report my unhappiness with the Mind website, in regard to complementary and alternative medicines; their website: “complementary therapy is one […]
Continue Reading →GENERIC PRESS RELEASE FROM (health charity)
I do feel slightly guilty about this, because there are some very good health charities out there. BMJ summer column. Dear [health journalist], As awareness day/week/month for [disease] is coming up fast—just the thing for those summer slow news days!—we have lots to offer you for features, comment, articles, photos! CELEBRITY! We are very happy […]
Continue Reading →The Surgical Checklist – twitter journal club
Quite excited about Twitter journal club, which is 8pm on Sunday @twitjournalclub The paper for TODAY(!) is “A Surgical Safety Checklist to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in a Global Population“. At the time it was published ,in 2009 in the NEJM, I had concerns about it, here. A few other people did too, but criticisms […]
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