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...
The United States of America is addicted to narcotics. I do not mean the millions of individuals who are hooked. I mean the whole nation is agitating for the stuff. I also do not mean the junk that slips into our nation in coffee cans or across midnight borders. I...
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...
Would it be big news if one third of athletes felt that using performance-enhancing drugs was not a form of cheating? Would this be even bigger news if 20% admitted doing so? I think it would be. Many people would be outraged. There would be calls for action and a...
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...
