READ THE NEWS ON ONE CLICK
http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk
1. Money Grubbing Doctors Agree To Be Ghost Authors For Pharma
Doctors have been agreeing to be named as authors on studies written by employees of the pharmaceutical industry, giving greater credibility to medical research, according to new evidence. The wider phenomenon has come to light through documents disclosed in the US courts which have revealed a culture in which doctors agree to “author” studies written by employees of drug firms. Experts believe the practice is widespread in Britain. Tim Kendall, joint director of the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, says the problem is the close relationship between doctors and the industry. Ghost writing was one manifestation of a bigger problem which he believed was the institutional bias of doctors who work closely with and for drug companies. “In mental health 85% of all published trials are funded by the drug industry,” he said. Allowing for the unsuccessful trials the industry does not publish, the figure is probably nearer 95 %, he said. Studies have shown that drug company-funded trials are five times more likely to come out with a positive result for the drug than independent trials. The UK General Medical Council is criticised by doctors like Wilmshurst and Blumsohn for failing to take a tougher line against doctors involved in dubious research practices.
Admin, World Gazette News
2. The H1N1 Vaccine And Side Effects In Ghana
The Public Agenda newspaper reported last week Friday that members of the public have started shying away from the H1N1 vaccination, following several reported cases of adverse effects from those who have taken it. The complaints range from weak joints, headache, dizziness, palpitation and swollen face among others. The paper also quoted one Raymon Osei Akoto, who described the vaccine as deadly and must be withdrawn by the government. He based his argument on information he obtained from the website of Organic Health Advisor, which has copious data on the adverse effects of the H1N1 vaccine. The Chronicle is indeed alarmed with reports about side-effects of the vaccine. Once this information gets into the public domain, the campaign to make people patronise the H1N1 vaccination will be defeated.
Ghanaian Chronicle
Related Links:
* Doctors Refuse To Use Swine Flu Vaccine
Neha Gupta, The Med Guru
* WHO And The Pandemic Flu Conspiracies
Deborah Cohen & Philip Carter, British Medical Journal
3. British Taxpayer Subsidising MPs Mass Drunkenness
Hidden subsidies cost the taxpayers millions of pounds in order to finance the lifestyles of MPs, yet the fearless political reporters of the Lobby don’t seem too keen on reporting this hidden subsidy. In another piece of evidence based blogging you won’t see in the newspapers Guido has been fearlessly investigating what exactly are the prevailing market conditions around Westminster. As the chart shows, the average price of a pint of a Guinness is £3.45. MPs pay a mere £2.20 for a pint and the taxpayers make up the difference. Prices would have to rise 57% for them to match what the public pays in and around the Westminster area. They still know how to look after themselves don’t they? MPs have no excuse for this subsidy and last Tuesday’s scenes of mass drunkenness hardly reflect well on Parliament. The first thing they should do to discourage that sort of behaviour is put the prices up to market rates, cheap dr ink has after all literally been their downfall. In these austere times of public sector cutbacks is it simply not justifiable for MPs to expect us to subsidise their drinking.
Guido Fawkes, Order-Order
4. Iceland's International Whistleblower Protection Scheme Is Audacious
Regardless of your views about offshore banking havens, they work. The wealthy are able to exploit loopholes in domestic and international law to stash money in places where it is untouchable. Could the same be possible for information? Could the world's most curious, revelatory and public interest-driven investigators also stash their goods – journalism – on an island out of reach of the authorities? Iceland thinks so. It is trying to create a legal system that would protect journalists from the full range of restrictions at work in other countries: libel, official secrets, injunctions, superinjunctions and laws compromising the protection of sources. The project is heralded by freedom of information campaigners as a potential saviour for journalists in countries such as Sri Lanka, where they have faced violence and even death. The fact that Iceland is such a unique country at such a unique moment is also the reason IMMI cannot be easily dis missed. It's audacious, risky, and it's never been done before. If anyone can pull it off, Iceland can.
Afua Hirch, Organ Grinder Blog, The Guardian
Related Links:
* Iceland Passes Legislation To Protect Whistleblowers & Investigative Journalism
Julian Assange, WikiLeaks
5. Digital Rights Conference UK - Get Your Ticket Now!
ORGCon is your crash course in digital rights. This one-day conference will deliver everything you need to get campaigning on issues like the Digital Economy Act and the Database State. As well as stellar speakers James Boyle, Cory Doctorow and Tom Watson, there'll be contributions from Liberty, NO2ID and Big Brother Watch. When? Saturday 24 July, 1030 - 1830. Where? City University, City University London, St John St, EC1 4 London. Over 300 people are booked to attend ORGCon and tickets are running out fast so get yours now!
Michael Holloway, Open Rights Group
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
6. Report Branding Birmingham Social Services Unfit For Purpose Wins Award
An investigation which branded Birmingham’s children’s social services department as unfit for purpose has won a national award for straight-talking. Judges were impressed by the frankness of the Who Cares report, which exposed poor practice by social workers and incompetent management. Coun Clark (Con Quinton) found “long term malpractice that contributed to a significant malfunctioning” within children’s social services. More than half of case files on children at risk contained “unacceptably poor practice”, social workers regularly failed to attend case reviews and had limited contact with the children they were supposed to be looking after. Coun Clark said: “It is a credit to the bold leadership within the council that we were given the freedom to be so open and honest about the problems in children’s social care. I am determined to see the recommendations we made in the report are followed thr ough.”
Paul Dale, Birmingham Post
READ THE NEWS ON ONE CLICK
http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk
Posts
