Although it may seem harsh, I believe that scientists should be held to a higher standard of honesty than the average person. The consequence is that they will be punished more severely for dishonesty—for example, by being banned from research for life. The main reason for this is that science depends wholly on trust. If, […]
“Although the numbers are elusive, we know that drugs do injure and kill.” So reminds our new columnist, the US family physician David Loxterkamp and founding director of the Seaport Community Health Center in Maine. He had ordered a plethora of tests when his student son complained of debilitating lethargy, joint pain, night sweats,and nausea, […]
There is a long tradition in medicine of accepting a degree of mismatch between labels and the functions that they address. A classic example is the stethoscope, through which few of us peer, but which only a terminal pedant would now agitate to be renamed a stethophone. Recent debate over the redesignation of dementia as “major […]
NEJM 21-28 August 2014 Vol 371 711 I have a new little grandson called Timothy. He is lucky being born in August because respiratory syncytial virus generally lies low at this time of the year. Most babies get RSV at some stage of their first year, and the earlier they get it the worse it […]
In a highly critical analysis article on thebmj.com, two cardiologists call on the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) to revise its recent guidance about the use of beta blockers in patients undergoing noncardiac surgery; to make processes more transparent; and to act more swiftly upon fraudulent research—particularly when patient lives are at risk. Since 2009, […]
Online publishing is evolving all the time, providing opportunities to display information in new and different ways. Our two latest State of the Art clinical reviews—still a relatively new type of article in The BMJ—(entitled “Lower urinary tract symptoms in men” and “Bariatric surgery for obesity and metabolic conditions in adults” both include interactive graphics […]
Each war revives the clash between the safety of a country’s own citizens and that of its soldiers. The recent Operation Protective Edge, taken by Israel with the objective of restoring calm to its citizens, should be examined by the same standard. Was the presumed political gain worth the soldiers’ loss of lives? Was […]
A strong critique just published points to logical inconsistencies in NICE’s consideration of social values, specifically in how it handles quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Since these are key to many of the most controversial decisions made by NICE’s appraisal committees, this matters. It matters all the more that the authors include Tony Culyer, who […]
As the summer holidays draw to a close, thousands of people up and down the country will have found out whether the hours and months spent meticulously researching the best places to visit and to stay ultimately came to fruition. There are lots of decisions to make in life. Holidays are a perfect example of […]
Earlier this year, The BMJ published an editorial urging doctors in India to fight back against corruption in medicine. Kickbacks and bribes are a global problem but India, “with rampant corruption at all levels, is prominent in this international field,” the authors wrote. Since the publication of the editorial in June, the article has been accessed […]