In all the arguments about budgets each year, two questions never get asked. The first is how much of the money we spend on “health” actually benefits people. The second is how much harm is done in the name of “health.” Last week I wrote an opinion piece on this topic...
In the Star Wars films there is a seesawing battle between the empire and the “rebels”. Through the initial three-film trilogy each side is in the ascendency at differing times. Whilst not a perfect analogy, it is interesting to apply this concept to battles in...
There is a very old maxim in medicine, which is first, do no harm. Once upon a time this was fairly easy to comply with, as there was little doctors could actually do. Today many tests and treatments can cause or lead to considerable harm. This does not mean they...
A major review of the data behind the anti- flu drugs Tamiflu and Relenza was released earlier this month. Governments worldwide spent billions of dollars stockpiling these drugs (Tamiflu particular) to release in case of a pandemic. This was based on them reducing...
A survey has shown that nearly half of American adults believe there are conspiracies in health to cover things up. This sounds crazy but lets reserve judgment for the minute. Here is something that should concern all of us. Whilst we hear about the wonders of...
Sometimes it is just so clear as to why solutions are not found to the various so-called health “crises”. Nobody is asking the right questions and hence nobody finds the right answers. I was at a panel discussion recently. The panel comprised a mixed group including...
