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1. Doctors Refuse To Use Swine Flu Vaccine
In spite of Maharashtra being the epicenter of the swine flu outbreak last year and currently witnessing over 200 infection cases this monsoon, doctors and public health workers in the state are refusing to take the swine flu vaccine. Doubts over the effectiveness of the vaccine, the mode of administering it, its possible side-effects, and even automatic immunity gained from working with patients so far are some of the several reasons due to which the paramedical staff refuse to take the vaccination. Not even 2000 vaccines of the total 34300 French vaccines purchased by the Maharashtra government at the cost of Rs300 per dose have been used in the last six months, claim records. The vaccines would expire by October this year.
Neha Gupta, The Med Guru
Related Links:
* WHO And The Pandemic Flu Conspiracies
Deborah Cohen & Philip Carter, British Medical Journal
* Swine Flu 'Pandemic' - Greed Driven Monumental Error
Fiona Macrae, Daily Mail
* Paul Flynn MP Slams WHO Swine Flu 'Pandemic' Hoax
David Deans, South Wales Argus
2. New Study Proves Homeopathy Prevents Japanese Encephalitis Killer
Homeopathy can prevent Japanese Encephalitis (JE) infection that infects 50,000 and kills 10,000 in South and Southeast Asia each year, report Indian researchers in the American Journal of Infectious Diseases. A study by researchers at Kolkata’s School of Tropical Medicine and the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy showed that the homeopathic medicine Belladonna prevented infection in chick embryos infected with the JE virus. Caused by a virus that circulates in pigs and wading birds and gets transferred to humans through the bite of the Culex mosquito, JE causes symptoms of headache, sudden high fever, neck stiffness, disorientation and seizures. Deaths in India, which range between 1,000 and 2,000 each year, occur mainly in children under 15 years in the endemic states of Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam and Bengal. The study showed significant decrease in the viral load when treated with homoeopathic medicine Belladonna in different poten cies, in comparison to placebo, said principal investigator Dr Bhaswati Bandopadhyay, assistant professor of virology, School of Tropical Medicine.
Sanchita Sharma, Hindustan Times
3. Sri Lanken Deaths Following Pentavalent Vaccine - Unacceptable Collateral Damage
Pentavalent vaccine was introduced in the national immunization programme in Sri Lanka in January 2008 but after several thousand doses were administered, it was withdrawn in April 2008 because of 25 serious adverse reactions that included 5 deaths. A WHO expert panel investigated the adverse effects and deaths and in its report classified 3 deaths (identified as cases D1, D3, and D6) as ‘Unlikely’ (to have been caused by the vaccine). Pentavalent vaccine was then introduced in national immunization programme of Bhutan in July 2009. Within 2 months, after 8 deaths, the vaccine was withdrawn in that country (6). At the behest of the WHO, the vaccination programme was restarted in Sri Lanka some 4 months ago and it is claimed that there is no change in the death rate in Sri Lanka – as if deaths in 3 infants from AEFI will alter the countries mortality statistics. The report presented to the Delhi High Court shows that the experts on AEFI i n Sri Lanka deleted the categories Probable and Possible from the standard classification. All adverse events which could not be classified as Very likely/Certain were classified as Unlikely. Using this new classification, they declared that 3 of the Sri Lanka reactions were ‘unlikely’ to be related to vaccine ‘although it could not be conclusively attributable to another cause’. It is evident from the discussion above that the three deaths (D1, D3, D6) would have been classified as ‘Very likely/certain AEFI’ or ‘Probable AEFI’ using the standard WHO classification. When the news of this change in classification caught the attention of the press, a WHO spokesperson defended the change saying that the WHO used ‘independent experts’ and they were free to make up their own classification. Classification of AEFI as ‘Certain/ Very likely’, often needs de-challenge or re-challenge evidence. This is not possible when the initial reaction results in death. The question the larger public (outside of India and Asia) needs to answer is whether they will permit this new classification to replace the standard WHO classification of AEFI. If this is allowed, deaths which occur as reaction to vaccine will nearly always be classified as ‘unlikely’ because de-challenge and re-challenge will not be possible post-mortem. The opprobrium of the BMJ stems from our raising these issues. Using the same yard-stick the Editor of the BMJ can be castigated as being ‘anti -vaccine’ for exposing the N1H1 vaccine scam.
Professor K B Saxena, Dr Jacob Puliyel et al, British Medical Journal
Related Links:
* Introducing pentavalent vaccine in the EPI in India: A counsel for caution
Zubair Lone & Jacob M. Puliyel, Indian J Med Res 132, July 2010, pp 1-3
4. Devastating FDA Safety Review Of Pivotal GSK Avandia Trial
Until now, FDA officials in the all-powerful, center for new drug evaluation (called CEDER), have, for the most part, turned a blind eye to the concealed safety problems of drugs it has approved for marketing. For example, FDA's initial review of GlaxoSmithKline's Avandia Record trial, in 2007, found no problems. However, the New York Times reports that an independent review by an FDA scientist who demanded raw data not biased company interpretations "found a dozen instances in which patients taking Avandia appeared to suffer serious heart problems that were not counted in the study's tally of adverse events." Dr. Jerome P. Kassirer, a former editor of The New England Journal, was led to conclude that the Record trial findings raise the question "whether the entire system is corrupt."
Vera Hassner Sharav, AHRP
5. Medical Expert Evidence: The Continuing Failure Of The Legal System
Some years ago I wrote in On Line Opinion and other publications about the failure of our legal system to heed the injustices that have occurred concerning the beliefs and speculations of British kidney specialist, Professor Sir Roy Meadow. These issues involve both civil and criminal jurisdictions. A succession of UK, Queensland and USA superior courts have found that Meadow’s cot deaths and Munchause Syndrome By Proxy beliefs have no legal foundation - R v LM ruled the MSBP label inadmissible evidence. The British General Medical Council and the Royal Statistical Society have criticised Meadow’s use of statistics and his lack of concern about the matter. I question why Meadow’s discredited beliefs are still being used in Australia, in both civil and criminal jurisdictions, as they are based on speculation, beliefs and surmise - no substantive evidence of illegal acts or probative evidence of children being at risk of harm.
Michael Nott, On Line Opinion
6. Judicial Review Of Digital Economy Act Sought
BT and TalkTalk are seeking a judicial review of the controversial Digital Economy Act, BBC News has learned. The two internet service providers want the High Court to clarify the legality of the act before it is implemented. The act was "rushed through" parliament before the general election, they say. Both think it had "insufficient scrutiny" and question whether its proposals to curb illegal file-sharing harm "basic rights and freedoms". The act became law shortly before parliament was dissolved in the so-called wash-up period. In particular TalkTalk and BT are seeking clarity as to whether the act conflicts with EU legislation. It could conflict with Europe's e-commerce directive which states that ISPs are "mere conduits" of content and should not be held responsible for the traffic on their networks. It may also be in contravention of the privacy and electronic communications directive, said Andrew Heaney, exec utive director of TalkTalk.
BBC News
Related Links:
* Early Day Motion To Repeal Digital Economy Act Failing Electorate
John Hunt, thinkbroadband
* Journalists' Union To Support Court Challenges Against Digital Economy Act
Judith Townend, journalism.co.uk
* UK Digital Economy Coalition Government Mocks Democracy - Next Please
Ben Camm-Jones, Webuser
* Digital Economy Bill Threatens One Click
Jane Bryant, The One Click Group
7. I'm Peter Mandelson, Internet Villain Of The Year - Loathe Me!
(Pic Courtesy Of One Click)
Peter Mandelson, the ex-MP, current lord and power broker we love to loathe has been named Internet Villain of the Year. Mandy was named the biggest internet villain of the year by the Internet Service Providers' Association, thanks in part, though probably not wholly, to his giving birth to and raising the bastard son of a thousand rights holders - the Digital Economy Act. Mandy got the gong last night, we weren't there and we doubt he was either. Knowing him, as we don't, we can only assume that he's lurking on a yacht somewhere with some other equally unpleasant people. Conversely, the internet hero of the year was Tom Watson, the MP that took a stand against the onerous Act. Sneak would like to volunteer to hand deliver the trophy to Mandy in person, or at the very least hurl it through a window of his. Congrats Peter, it couldn't have happened to a more deserving individual.
IT Sneak
8. Backlash Begins Against Secret Backdoor NHS Database
Sir Peter Soulsby MP says it is important to be aware of the potential for abuse
More than 10,000 babies in Leicestershire had their DNA stored on an NHS database last year without the proper consent of their parents, it has been claimed. Blood samples are taken from newborn infants around the country in routine heel prick tests to screen for serious health problems. But it has emerged they are banked in databases for years by hospitals, and could be accessed by police looking to identify criminal suspects. Medical researchers can also gain access to them, prompting concerns that a national DNA database is being created by the back door. Mothers are given leaflets explaining their child's blood will be stored for "at least five years", but campaigners say parents are not being properly informed that some hospitals are holding samples indefinitely and that they might be used in police inquiries. Figures from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust show that between 10,000 and 11,000 infants had the heel prick test last ye ar. The trust would not comment further.
Leicester Mercury
Related Links:
* The UK Database State Scandal
Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust
9. Yet Another Disgraceful Example Of Data Loss By Councils
Over at the UK ICO, a press release that should send a shiver up the spine of any resident of the following areas (and probably the rest of us too, given the slack behaviour it suggests): Over 9,000 child details put at risk by councils The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has taken action against the London Borough of Barnet, West Sussex County Council and Buckinghamshire County Council for breaching the Data Protection Act. A systemic lack of staff training on how to handle personal information has led to the loss of sensitive personal information relating to thousands of children. Children are entitled to privacy just like adults: these authorities have had scant regard for the safety of their private information. Residents with children must be wondering - What else has been lost by these councils? Remember of course that national government is just as bad as local government - in 2006 the DWP lost the entire child benefit database, conta ining the very private details of some 25 million people.
Alex Deane, Big Brother Watch
10. Sterilise Benefits Claimants Urges Racist UK Government Website
This is a single issue newsletter asking for your urgent help in getting a UK government website closed down. The site, set up by the treasury to allow people to suggest ways to cut government spending, is full of hate-filled racist and disablist suggestions, including the sterilisation of benefits claimants, the return of the workhouse and the forced repatriation of asylum seekers and migrants. Some of the site’s content is so extreme it may even constitute a criminal offence. The Spending Challenge website was set up on Friday by the coalition government and features an introduction and video on its home page by chancellor George Osborne. To leave the responsibility for policing a government website to members of the public instead of checking each submission before publishing it is, at best, inexcusably negligent and, at worst, criminally irresponsible. If you are as revolted as we are by the use of taxpayers money to encourage racism and h atred of claimants, please consider doing the following: Contact your MP today and ask them to tell the chancellor to close down this vile site, clean it up and don’t reopen it until it is properly policed; Make a complaint to the Equalities and human Rights Commission.
Steve Donnison, Benefits & Work
11. Fury As Superb Training Scheme For Legal Aid Lawyers Faces Axe
Government plans to scrap a scheme for supporting the training of future legal aid lawyers has provoked a furious response, as critics say the move will hit the prospects of the poorest in society joining the profession. The plans would end the £2.6m-a-year training contract grant scheme, which helps pay for more than 750 young lawyers across England to qualify and give legal advice on issues such as housing, welfare benefits, immigration and crime. The decision, announced last week, to terminate the scheme is expected to hit small firms that recruit lawyers from underprivileged backgrounds particularly hard. The measure has been criticised as a rushed measure as legal aid is still awaiting a full review. "This is a mean decision, which will lead to some skilled and committed young lawyers not choosing the legal aid path, but looking to other parts of the law," Lord Bach, a former Labour legal aid minister told the Guardian. Laura Janes, chair of Young Legal Aid Lawyers, said: "Firms are dropping like flies and those left are going to be relying on armies of unqualified paralegals, who cannot deliver the level of quality the government claims it is committed to."
Afua Hirsch, The Guardian
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