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 'defamation'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:24:20 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4382704&cid=t_188851_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2011%2F01%2Ftrauma-surgeon-thomas-kossmann-resolves-30-million-suit-hospital%2F Trauma surgeon Dr. Thomas Kossmann has apparently resolved his defamation suit against Alfred Health and has received a $1.98 million settlement from the hospital. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4382704 Fri, 21 Jan 2011 14:51:45 +0100 4382704 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4155238&cid=t_188851_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D3665 . Sign at http://libelreform.org/ Freedom of speech in everyday life is a beautiful and hard-won fundamental liberty. I can say what I like about the prime minister and the royal family. There will be no knock on the door in the night. Bur as a scientist, I cannot express an opinion on a scientific question freely. That is not, thank heavens, because of the government, the military or the police. It is because of a bunch of despicable lawyers who take advantage of an unjust law to make vast amounts of money. Do Carter-Ruck care if I’m made homeless and my son loses his education? They don’t give a damn. The present libel law in the UK is a threat to journalists and, even more, to bloggers most of whom have little money. Still worse it endangers science itself. You cannot safel... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4155238 Thu, 11 Nov 2010 09:47:18 +0100 4155238 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4055958&cid=t_188851_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2FnhT6tumVJgc%2F A senior Health Canada analyst who reviews drugs before they go on the public market is suing his boss for allegedly branding him as mentally unstable and potentially violent after he opposed a government policy on labeling hormone drugs for men, The Ottawa Citizen reports. Thaddeus Yarney had argued against an alleged policy proposed by a Health Canada director to remove a statement from drug labeling that andropause (otherwise known as male menopause) is a condition that can be treated by testosterone drugs. This is a contentious issue that was the subject of a recent study in The New England Journal of Medicine (see here). Yarney, a reproductive endocrinologist, had what was described as a prestigious and unblemished career for 25 years until 2005, when he started reporting to a new bos... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4055958 Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:03:00 +0100 4055958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3913105&cid=t_188851_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F08%2Fdr-mark-mandellbrown-sues-dr-lawrence-kurtzman-defamation%2F The disagreement between surgeons Dr. Mark Mandell-Brown and Dr. Lawrence Kurtzman about who is qualified to perform which plastic surgical procedures has now moved into the courts. Dr. Mandell-Brown is suing Dr. Kurtzman and is asking for $3 million in damages. The case is scheduled to be heard in November. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3913105 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 16:52:56 +0100 3913105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3776317&cid=t_188851_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fappeals-court-upholds-court-ruling-orthopedic-surgeon-dr-william-vranos%2F A Massachusetts appeals court has upheld a lower court decision to find against orthopedic surgeon Dr. William Vranos in his defamation lawsuit against Franklin Medical Center and officials. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3776317 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 22:25:54 +0100 3776317 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3733086&cid=t_188851_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fdoctor-suing-for-bad-ratings-online%2F2010.07.07 I must say I think Dr. Kimberly Henry, cosmetic surgeon, has made a big professional mistake. She has filed a lawsuit to stop online reviewers from badmouthing her on the Internet. She is seeking injunctions against at least 12 reviewers from sites such as Yelp.com and DoctorScorecard.com. Dr. Henry claims libel and defamation, invasion of privacy and interference with prospective economic advantage and is seeking $1million in general damages and $1million in special damages, etc. Now I don’t know Dr. Henry nor do I know of her plastic surgery technique. I don’t know who the disgruntled patients are or if they are unfairly targeting her. What I do know is that the Internet is here to stay and there’s no place to hide if you don’t provide excellent customer ser... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3733086 Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:00:00 +0100 3733086 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3726557&cid=t_188851_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fcalifornia-plastic-surgeon-dr-kimberly-henry-sues-negative-reviewers%2F In a case sure to cheer all physicians who have had bad reviews in online comment forums and who cannot respond because of HIPAA violations, California plastic surgeon Dr. Kimberly Henry has filed a multimillion dollar lawsuit against three online critics. She is claiming libel and defamation, invasion of privacy, and interference with prospective economic advantage. Some of the critical comments were registered with DoctorScorecard.com, who initially complied with a subpoena for the reviewers IP addresses and emails. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3726557 Tue, 06 Jul 2010 00:17:14 +0100 3726557 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823996&cid=t_188851_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D2262 Conclusions: SMT is unlikely to result in relevant early pain reduction in patients with acute low back pain." Admittedly, the trial was quite small (104 patients, 52 in each group) so it will need to be confirmed. but the result is entirely in line with what we knew already. It also adds to the evidence that the recommendation by NICE of SMT by chiropractors constitutes their biggest failure ever to assess evidence properly. If NICE don’t amend this advice soon, they are in danger of damaging their hitherto excellent record. Despite the moderate tone and accuracy of what Holt said on TV, the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association made a formal complaint. That is what they like to do, as I learned recently, to my cost. It is so much easier than producing evidence. Quite ... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823996 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:00:21 +0100 2823996 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2649004&cid=t_188851_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1980 Jump to follow-up Today, 29 July 2009, a large number of magazines and blogs will publish simultaneously Simon Singh’s article. The Guardian was forced to withdraw it, but what he said must be heard (even if the word ‘bogus’ is now missing). This is an edited version if the article in the Guardian that resulted in the decision of the British Chiropractic Association to sue Singh for libel. That decision was bad for Singh, though its effects could yet be good for the rest of the world, Firstly the decision to use law rather than rational argument stands a good chance of destroying chiropractic entirely because its claims have now come under scrutiny as never before, and they have been found wanting. Secondly, the support for Singh has been so enormous that there must now b... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2649004 Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:01:55 +0100 2649004 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602003&cid=t_188851_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1882 It’s good to see the BMJ joining the campaign for free speech (only a month or two behind the blogs). The suing of Simon Singh for defamation by the British Chiropractic Association has stirred up a hornet’s nest that could (one hopes) change the law of the land, and destroy chiropractic altogether. The BMJ’s editor, Fiona Godlee, has a fine editorial, Keep the libel laws out of science. She starts “I hope all readers of the BMJ are signed up to organised scepticism” and says “Weak science sheltered from criticism by officious laws means bad medicine. Singh is determined to fight the lawsuit rather than apologise for an article he believes to be sound. He and his supporters have in their sights not only the defence of this case but the reform of England&... DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602003 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 07:53:13 +0100 2602003 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2523001&cid=t_188851_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1775 Conclusion Chiropractic spinal manipulation is no more effective than placebo in the treatment of infantile colic. This study emphasises the need for placebo controlled and blinded studies when investigating alternative methods to treat unpredictable conditions such as infantile colic. More on this dishonest selectivity can be found at Holfordwatch. No doubt there will soon be more analyses of what passes, in the eyes of the BCA, for evidence, The nine papers they cite for colic are truly pathetic. Not a single one of them amounts to anything that would be recognised as evidence in the real world. And papers that do provide real evidence are not mentioned. Follow-up As always, the blogs provided a very fast response to a document that appeared only late last night.  And, as always,... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2523001 Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:58:20 +0100 2523001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2473436&cid=t_188851_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1704 Jump to follow-up This is another short interruption in the epic self-destruction of chiropractors.  In a sense it is more serious.  One expects quacks to advocate quackery.  What you don’t expect is that the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) will endorse it.  Neither do you expect the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to betray its mandate to make sure that medicines work. The saga of the NICE low back pain guidance has been the subject of a deluge of criticism, It seems doubtful that the guidance can survive, not least because of its absurd endorsement of chiropractic, at a time when chiropractic is undergoing self-immolation as a consequence of the persecution of Simon Singh by the British Chiropractic Association (see he... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2473436 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:37:28 +0100 2473436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452540&cid=t_188851_97_f&fid=36415&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D1630 The battle for freedom of speech is under way. Simon Singh is a great science writer and communicator. He is author of The Big Bang, The Code Book, Fermat’s Last Theorem, and, with Edzard Ernst, Trick or Treatment. They are superb books (buy from Amazon). When Singh had the temerity to express an honest opinion, based on the evidence, about that very curious branch of alternative medicine known as chiropractic, the British Chiropractic Association sued Singh for defamation.This was their substitute for producing evidence for their bizarre claims. Chiropractors seem to be particularly fond of litigation, perhaps because they are so short of evidence. Having had legal threats from them myself, I know how scary it can be, Luckily I was saved by a feisty a journal editor.  Sing... DC's Improbable Science blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452540 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 23:02:26 +0100 2452540 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764447&cid=t_188851_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D253 The publication of Gilbey’s paper and my editorial in the New Zealand Medical Journal (NZMJ) led to a threat of legal action by the NZ Chiropractors’ Association Inc for alleged defamation.  After publishing a defiant editorial, the editor of the NZMJ offered chiropractors the chance to put their case. In the last issue of NZMJ [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764447 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:11:54 +0100 1764447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1717883&cid=t_188851_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D247 My original piece on Integrative Baloney@Yale was posted on May 16th, after I got back from a visit there. The talk I gave there included a short video. My movie, Integrative baloney@Yale, was made entirely from clips taken from Yale’s own YouTube movies which showed something approaching three hours of its “1st [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1717883 Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:11:16 +0100 1717883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689336&cid=t_188851_90_f&fid=36413&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdcscience.net%2F%3Fp%3D245 An editorial in today’s issue of the New Zealand Medical Journal prints in full a letter sent to the Journal by Paul Radich, a lawyer who acts for the New Zealand Chiropractors’ Association Inc and its members. The letter alleges defamation by Andrew Gilbey’s articla, and by my editorial which sets the wider context [...] (Source: DC's goodscience) DC's goodscience blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689336 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 06:28:39 +0100 1689336 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625551&cid=t_188851_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fbacon-boobs-peter-carter-ruck-involved.html It is not just life long readers of Private Eye, (see recurring "in-jokes" in Private Eye) like Dr Crippen who have heard of Peter Carter Ruck. They are the most pre-eminent libel lawyers in London. Today PULSE reports:Carter-Ruck solicitors, acting on behalf of a group of 37 doctors, has written to Dr Neil Bacon, the founder of www.iwantgreatcare.org, expressing ‘grave concerns about the potential for inaccurate, irresponsible and defamatory allegations being published on the website.’The letter details a number of concerns relating to the site’s comment-moderation policy and warns: ‘We put you on formal notice that if one of our clients is defamed on your website and instructs us to take action, a copy of this letter will be made available to the court at the appropriate stage in... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625551 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 08:17:00 +0100 1625551 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1625552&cid=t_188851_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fdr-jayantilal-popat-abused-by-dr-neil.html click to enlargeThe above represents the gratuitous abuse of the unfortunate Dr Jayantilal Popat by Dr Neil Bacon. I stored it on FURL. The first comment to appear, unmoderated, and apparantly unchecked by Bacon, was the one at the bottom by the "carer, relative."Next, the three supportive comments above appeared.Then, the three supportive comments were removed, leaving just the derogatory one at the bottom. Unfortunately, I did not store that image. Today, on checking Bacon's website, we find this:I have stored this away here on jkn.com and so Bacon cannot alter it again. Thus, for two days, Baconshit was responsible for publishing apallingly defamatory remarks about a family doctor without offering him a right of reply.  We assume that the remarks could not be verified, and so they ha... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1625552 Wed, 16 Jul 2008 07:12:00 +0100 1625552 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1543087&cid=t_188851_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Fhas-dr-john-briffa-taken-leave-of-his.html The British Diabetic Association, or Diabetes UK as it is now called, is one of the longest established and most respected medical charities in the country. I routinely advise all my diabetic patients to join it.Dr John Briffa is a qualified doctor and a purveyor of various concoctions of vitamins and minerals, some of which he has "designed" himself. A couple of days ago, we looked at BioCare SucroGuard (Blood Glucose Support). Sucroguard® is specially formulated by John Briffa. Dr Briffa trys to flog this patent medicine to treat patients who need “blood glucose support”. I have yet to find a reputable doctor who would endorse this product. If there is one, do email me.Dr Briffa has today moved on from flogging his pills to mounting a savage attack on Diabetes UK. Take a look at thi... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1543087 Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:15:00 +0100 1543087