MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'ben goldacre'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:03:15 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4501590&cid=t_132631_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FDuNIkML7OKA%2F Check out @ProfessorFunk's kinetic typography take on the utter weirdness of placebos, based on information from @BenGoldacre's superlative book, Bad Science. (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4501590 Sun, 20 Feb 2011 09:40:48 +0100 4501590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4318332&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fbad-science-and-the-gift-of-medical-skepticism%2F2011.01.06 Discover magazine had an article about Dr. Ben Goldacre, a British physician who writes for The Guardian, is the author of the new book “Bad Science: Quacks, Hacks, and Big Pharma Flacks,” and is considered a gift to skepticism. His column is also called “Bad Science,” and he recently gave a short and interesting talk about non-evidence-based medicine at the Pop!Tech conference held in Camden, Maine. Enjoy! Ben Goldacre Talks Bad Science from PopTech on Vimeo. *This blog post was originally published at ScienceRoll* (Source: Better Health) Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4318332 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:00:52 +0100 4318332 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4143012&cid=t_132631_150_f&fid=34768&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmagossip.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F11%2Fjust-in-time-for-christmas_07.html Buy"Ben Goldacre, a British physician and author, has written a very funny and biting book critiquing what he calls "Bad Science.'' Under this heading he includes homeopathy, cosmetics manufacturers whose claims about their products defy plausibility, proponents of miracle vitamins, and drug companies and physicians who design faulty studies and manipulate the results . . . While it is a very entertaining book, it also provides important insight into the horrifying outcomes that can result when willful anti-intellectualism is allowed equal footing with scientific methodology." ----Dennis Rosen, The Boston Globe (Source: PharmaGossip) PharmaGossip blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4143012 Sun, 07 Nov 2010 03:03:00 +0100 4143012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4013278&cid=t_132631_111_f&fid=34834&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FMentalNurse%2F%7E3%2Fp96zPuhbF2U%2F I’ve been seeing a 10 year old boy with ADHD and Aspergers. He’s a genuinely likeable kid. He’s intelligent, he can be incredibly pleasant, but he’s also hyperactive to the max. He has tortuous rituals that take up large amounts of time and cause him to go berserk if they’re interrupted. If he sees a dog or a cat he flies into a panic. His Mum and Dad love him, but he’s very challenging, and he exhausts them. Methylphenidate has reduced his impulsivity, but hasn’t eliminated it. A quarter of a milligram of risperidone takes the edge off his agitation, but it’s made him gain weight and the consultant is reluctant to give any more than that to somebody so young. His parents use reward charts, but he isn’t good at recognising the value of ... Mental Nurse blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4013278 Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:21:31 +0100 4013278 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3146231&cid=t_132631_167_f&fid=36994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition-news.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fbmjcom-ben-goldacre.html bmj.com: Just found this lovely response to The Bitch Doctor from Dr John Briffa on the BMJ website ........ it's old but worth revisiting.John P Briffa,Doctor and health writerWoolaston House, 25 Southwood Lane, Highgate, London N6 5ED Dr Goldacre’s opinion piece [1] takes a broad swipe at media nutritionists by focusing on some silly thinking and the ‘pseudoscience’ that undoubtedly can sometimes be found in the area. The author takes particular exception to Gillian McKeith’s claim that chlorophyll is rich in oxygen and that eating plenty of it will help to oxygenate the blood. In respect to this, Dr Goldacre comments “as any 14 year old biology student could tell you, plants only make oxygen in light: it's very dark in your bowel; and even if, to prove a po... Healthy Eating & Nutrition News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3146231 Wed, 06 Jan 2010 16:09:00 +0100 3146231 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178780&cid=t_132631_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2Flondon-news-220307_NEW.wmv This article was meant to celebrate their collective efforts and to celebrate the fact that those efforts are beginning to percolate upwards to influence the powers that be. It seems invidious to pick on one example, but if you want an example of beautiful and trenchant writing on one of the topics dealt with here, you’d be better off reading Andrew Lewis’s piece "Meddling Princes, Medical Regulation and Licenses to Kill” than anything in a print journal. I was a bit disappointed by removal of the comment about the Prince of Wales.  In fact I’m not particularly republican compared with many of my friends.  The royal family is clearly good for the tourist industry and that’s important.  Since Mrs Thatcher (and her successors) destroyed larg... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178780 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 07:01:58 +0100 3178780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2641287&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fswine-flu-news-7-medical-blogoshpere-is.html The defendants, the proprietors of a medical preparation called "The Carbolic Smoke Ball," issued an advertisement in which they offered to pay 100 to any person who contracted the influenza after having used one of their smoke balls in a specified manner and for a specified period. The plaintiff on the faith of the advertisement bought one of the balls, and used it in the manner and for the period specified, but nevertheless contracted the influenzaFull storyBeyond the hysteria, there are now some excellent resources surrounding the pros and cons of Tamiflu in the medical blogosphere.Anthony Cox is an academic pharmacist who writes an as always balanced review article on a drug that he concludes is probably safe, but which has potentially serious and unpleasant side effects. It is most ce... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2641287 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:05:00 +0100 2641287 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2639567&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fswine-flu-news-7-medical-blogoshpere-is.html The defendants, the proprietors of a medical preparation called "The Carbolic Smoke Ball," issued an advertisement in which they offered to pay 100 to any person who contracted the influenza after having used one of their smoke balls in a specified manner and for a specified period. The plaintiff on the faith of the advertisement bought one of the balls, and used it in the manner and for the period specified, but nevertheless contracted the influenzaFull storyBeyond the hysteria, there are now some excellent resources surrounding the pros and cons of Tamiflu in the medical blogosphere.Anthony Cox is an academic pharmacist who writes an as always balanced review article on a drug that he concludes is probably safe, but which has potentially serious and unpleasant side effects. It is most ce... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2639567 Sun, 26 Jul 2009 10:05:00 +0100 2639567 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2307454&cid=t_132631_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsandnsurf.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F04%2Fquackery-without-scruples%2F With disappointment I report the existence of the organisation called “Homeopaths Without Borders” . Yes, really. They really do exist.  I have to agree with PZ Myers who, given the brazen adulteration the good name of MSF (”Doctors Without Borders”), thinks that “Quackery Without Scruples” is more appropriate. The propagation of any practice - especially something [...] (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2307454 Fri, 03 Apr 2009 21:00:26 +0100 2307454 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2210318&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fjonathan-richards-talented-broadcast.html A talented broadcast journalist of the utmost integrity?The furore caused by Jeni Barnett’s irresponsible and ill-educated foray into matters medical has still not died down. Indeed, due to Jonathan Richards' inability to deal with the problem, it is now being considered at the highest level.Early Day MotionEDM 754MMR VACCINE AND THE MEDIA10.02.2009Lamb, NormanThat this House expresses its support for the use of the combined MMR vaccine; notes with concern the re-emergence of measles and the loss of life and long-term health problems which will afflict children as a result of the decline in the vaccination rate which followed Dr Andrew Wakefield's now discredited research paper suggesting a link between MMR vaccine and autism; expresses its disappointment that ill-informed comments by pr... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2210318 Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:47:00 +0100 2210318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177463&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fchallenge-to-lbc-give-dr-ben-goldacre.html Stifling freedom of speech in LondonThe debate between Ben Goldacre/Jeni Barnett has taken a turn for the worse. It seems that Jeni Barnett has received a number of personally abusive emails and is upset. LBC, oddly, has contacted Ben Goldacre to complain.As I said earlier, abusive ad hominen attacks have the opposite effect to that intended.I find it hard to have much sympathy with Jeni Barnett. She is a provocative and outspoken broadcast journalist. That is what LBC pay her to be. She lives in a glass house of her own making, and she throws stones. Her broadcast on MMR was, as she has admitted, ill considered and ill researched, and she was rude about a nurse who tried to have a rational discussion with her. She purported to be prepared to debate the issues on her blog, but has now take... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177463 Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:20:00 +0100 2177463 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2177464&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fwhat-happened-to-smallpox-and-apology.html Smallpox is an acute contagious disease caused by variola virus, a member of the orthopoxvirus family. Smallpox, which is believed to have originated over 3,000 years ago in India or Egypt, is one of the most devastating diseases known to humanity. For centuries, repeated epidemics swept across continents, decimating populations and changing the course of history. In some ancient cultures, smallpox was such a major killer of infants that custom forbade the naming of a newborn until the infant had caught the disease and proved it would survive.Smallpox killed Queen Mary II of England, Emperor Joseph I of Austria, King Luis I of Spain, Tsar Peter II of Russia, Queen Ulrika Elenora of Sweden, and King Louis XV of France.The disease, for which no effective treatment was ever developed, killed ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2177464 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 19:45:00 +0100 2177464 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2170625&cid=t_132631_88_f&fid=38203&url=http%3A%2F%2Fprecordialthump.medbrains.net%2F2009%2F02%2F09%2Fhomeopathy-revisited%2F A month ago I wrote a post about homeopathy. Since then I have unearthed a few nuggets of gold that have lead me to revisit the subject. HOMEOPATHS WITHOUT BORDERS That’s right! This organisation really exists. I agree whole-heartedly with PZ Myers who suggests that “Quackery Without Borders” might well be a more appropriate name… BAD SCIENCE Dr Ben Goldacre is author of Bad Science. He wrote a couple excellent articles on homeopathy that were published in late 2007. “Benefits and risks of homeopathy” was published in the Lancet and concisely reviews the (lack of) evidence for homeopathy, but also shows how homeopathy can benefit a patient. However, I think the placebo effect should be better harnessed by medical professionals rather than left to quacks... AEQUANIMITAS blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2170625 Tue, 10 Feb 2009 00:52:44 +0100 2170625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2168215&cid=t_132631_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1061 Jump to follow-up I’m a bit late on this one, but better late than never. The opinionated and ill-informed actress turned talk show host, Jeni Barnett, spent an hour or so endangering your children (and hers) with what most surely be one of the worst ever accounts of measles vaccination. The chart shows the result of the activities [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2168215 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 16:09:23 +0100 2168215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2167518&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fim-believer-mmr-measles-autism.html click to enlargeWelcome to Thoughtful House"Thoughtful House is fighting to recover children with developmental disorders (autism, PDD, Asperger’s syndrome, ADD, ADHD and NLD) through the unique combination of medical care, education, and research."+++++++++++It sounds wonderful, doesn’t it? All those well-dressed, smiling professionals at the top.  Do you recognise the “professional” on the right of the photograph? It’s Dr Andrew Wakefield. “Thoughtful House” is his refuge in Texas. The place he has now found from which to flog his dubious wares.What, precisely, is Andrew Wakefield’s status? He has no professional training in the management of autism, or ADHD and Asperger's Syndrome. He is not a psychiatrist. He is not a paediatrician. Already, therefore, we wonder whethe... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2167518 Sun, 08 Feb 2009 10:50:00 +0100 2167518 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414834&cid=t_132631_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1061 Jump to follow-up I’m a bit late on this one, but better late than never. The opinionated and ill-informed actress turned talk show host, Jeni Barnett, spent an hour or so endangering your children (and hers) with what most surely be one of the worst ever accounts of measles vaccination. The chart shows the result of the activities of people like her (see BBC report). Chart from BBC report She was abominably rude to a well-informed nurse who phoned in to try to inject some sense into the conversation. The LBC tried to stop Ben Goldacre from publicising this horrific show by legal action. Blogs are the new journalism. The response has been wonderful.  People of all ages sat up late into the night transcribing the entire broadcast.  Unlike the doubtless highly-paid actress, th... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414834 Sat, 07 Feb 2009 07:37:52 +0100 2414834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039902&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F12%2Finfluenza-hypocrisy.html Oh Dear! I fear I am going to get in trouble for this one.I have never had a flu immunisation. OK, I don’t have any of the high risk conditions like asthma and COPD and so on but I am a "health care worker."Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: "It's very worrying. People - even doctors - have forgotten what flu is. They have not seen real, serious flu for years and are not getting their vaccine. It is putting patients at risk - not only from catching flu but from staff being off sick. Healthcare workers have a moral duty to get the vaccine."BBCI must admit to some bias. I’m not a fan of Steve Field. I was not happy that he popped up at the top of my profession. Not quite sure how he managed that – except to say that he is, of course, a ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039902 Tue, 16 Dec 2008 00:15:00 +0100 2039902 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017834&cid=t_132631_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F4SCUw62fj9k%2F MMR and autism have become indelibly linked in the public consciousness. What about MMR and asthma? A study in the December 1st American Journal of Epidemiology asks if there is an association between receiving the MMR vaccine and asthma in early childhood. 871,234 children were examined; researchers Anders Hviid and Mads Melbye looked at rates of hospitalization in those with asthma diagnoses and (for a subset of the cohort) the use of anti-asthma medications. Significantly larger numbers of children who had received the MMR vaccine were less often hospitalized with an asthma diagnosis and also used anti-asthma medication less than unvaccinated children. Researchers concluded that these results are compatible not with an increased risk of asthma following MMR vaccination but rather with t... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017834 Sun, 07 Dec 2008 07:27:54 +0100 2017834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1908723&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fplugging-bad-science.html Bad Science by Dr Ben GoldacreThere are not many books on Amazon that get 25 unsolicited reviews from the general public within a few weeks of publication, and none (to my knowledge) that gets a consistent 5 star rating from all the reviewers.Bad Science is by Dr Ben Goldacre, well known to Guardian readers for his regular column, and also within the medical blogosphere for his leading blog of the same name.Ben graduated from Oxford with a 1st class degree in medicine and still found time to edit Isis. He has picked up a qualification in philosophy somewhere along the way, and is currently a research psychiatrist at the Maudsley Hospital. It’s an impressive career to date, and there is more to come.The book is a joy. It is easy to read, at times very funny. But do not be deceived by the ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1908723 Sun, 26 Oct 2008 12:09:00 +0100 1908723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770620&cid=t_132631_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F_yuautKfH1E%2F Here’s what readers have been saying in a very busy week in which we learned, or learned again, that the MMR vaccine does not cause autism: Norah on whether the term “mild autism” is still in use and Larry on the “pop psychology typical of wired [magazine].” Ongoing discussion about stem cell therapy as an autism treatment, and about the death of Shirley Meade at a camp after being given the wrong medication. Jaz on what it’s been like in Illinois on a 49-year-old younger brother who was “on a waiting list for a home for 20 years after contacting an advocate he got one of the two places that 52 people were waiting for.” Regan adds to a discussion on the MMR controversy and notes an interview with Ben Goldacre. Bonnie Sayers on school security... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770620 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:36:32 +0100 1770620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1746381&cid=t_132631_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FgIjonmZDlo0%2F Sometimes I think this blog is in danger of becoming a vaccine blog, as vaccines are so frequently a topic here. There’s what some refer to as their right to vaccinate or not. There’ve been recent outbreaks of measles and mumps, with many cases among unvaccinated persons. There’s the fear that vaccines or something in vaccines might be connected to autism. Indeed, it’s “fear of autism” that is the reason for the continued talk about vaccines and autism. Anti-vaccine/pro-vaccine-safety advocates say that they want to “change the schedule” and to “make vaccines safer” to ensure that future generations of children do not get autism. But, while it seems hard to mention autism these days without vaccines being brought up, the number of... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1746381 Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:32:25 +0100 1746381 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1536435&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fwhy-we-should-all-read-daily-mail.html Most intelligent people caught reading the Daily Mail will have an explanation. “I found it on the train” or “They delivered the wrong paper this morning. I normally get The Times”. Truth be told, apart from the title, The Times is increasingly indistinguishable from the Daily Mail. But I digress. Ben Goldacre of “Bad Science” has a column in The Guardian, so you would think he reads The Guardian. And he probably does. But he reads the Daily Mail too. His excuse seems to be that “he has to” because he is a medical journalist. OK, Ben, I can go with that.In discussing the effect of popular medical journalism he says:A 2005 study in the Medical Journal of Australia looked at the impact of Kylie Minogue’s breasts on mammogram bookings, looking at appointments made before, du... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1536435 Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:56:00 +0100 1536435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1406919&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fvitamin-and-enzyme-supplements.html click to enlargeAlison, a highly intelligent patient, came in last night clutching something a friend had cut out of one of the Sunday papers. Alison is in her late sixties, had a heart attack four years ago, has two coronary artery stents and has a cholesterol of 4.1. She is on Simvastatin. Her friend is also on a statin. They compared notes. The friend started to get painful joints on the statin and so started taking CoQ10. Her joints are much better. Alison is a keen walker and, after a few miles, her knees hurt and so reasonably enough she has concluded that CoQ10 might help. And you can buy CoQ10 for "only" £15.19 from Boots. What is more, Boots advertise CoQ10 on the internet, with a lot of other vitamin and enzyme supplements.Kaneka Q10 (Coenzyme Q10)Natural source, high quality an... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1406919 Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:18:00 +0100 1406919 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455334&cid=t_132631_167_f&fid=36994&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnutrition-news.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F01%2Fdr-ben-goldacre-quackiest-of-quacks.html Cultural DwarfsQuackiest of Quacky Quackpot Bad Scientists Awards I think I may be one of the few people around in the Natural Health Industry who thinks that the vitriolic, potentially libellous, cynical and vindictive ramblings of Dr Ben Goldacre have been partly a good thing. He has probably done more than anyone to unite the Complementary Medicine Industry and help a vast new audience examine health alternatives more closely. Even just by highlighting the fact that there ARE alternatives to the grossly ineffectual NHS system.Thousands more desperate people failed by the NHS having suffered from 13 years of 'IBS' (irritable bowel syndrome) , or even more years from constipation have suddenly found there was no need to be suffering and suddenly find themselves with relief after a few wee... Healthy Eating & Nutrition News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455334 Thu, 03 Jan 2008 12:03:00 +0100 1455334 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=755629&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fobserver-mmr-story-has-disappeared-from.html Quick update. Dr Ben Goldacre has just posted a note to say that Observer MMR Story Disappears From Archives.For obvious reasons of propriety I have studiously avoided having an inside track on anything to do with this piece from the beginning, so I have no idea what is going on here.Were The Observer nibbled to death by ducks in trying to find out where to start for the corrections? Has that desperate email by Dr Fiona Scott convinced them that they had this story badly wrong? Is there going to be a retraction? The Observer badly needs to retract that story albeit the damage is done and those infamous figures have been widely quoted as evidence of an autism epidemic. Maybe there will be a retraction. Must go, I've just been told that pigs are flying and that there is to be an announcement... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=755629 Tue, 24 Jul 2007 16:26:00 +0100 755629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=741436&cid=t_132631_87_f&fid=34882&url=http%3A%2F%2Fbreathspakids.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fben-goldacre-breaks-his-silence-on.html I recently complained about the standard of coverage of MMR and autism issues in the UK media alongside the ubiquitous hagiographies of Dr Andrew Wakefield.The belief in a link between MMR-vaccines-mercury-autism has cultish overtones. Most religions have an act of contrition. UK media collectively need to make an act of contrition and perform an act of reparation. The latter, of course, should take the form of some informed coverage. I would nominate Ben Goldacre (who is uncharacteristically/ominously quiet at present) but then what would somebody who is medically qualified and known for promoting the public understanding of science (awards and everything) have to add to this discussion?Ben Goldacre has broken his silence with an article in the BMJ: MMR: the scare stories are back (also a... Breath Spa for Kids blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=741436 Wed, 18 Jul 2007 11:18:00 +0100 741436