Rapid Responses to:
|
|
Rapid Responses: Rapid Responses published:
-
![[Read Rapid Response]](/icons/misc/sectionDOWN.gif)
Poor standard of English in the BMJ
- Gabriel Symonds (3 June 2004)
-
Richard Smith : The End Of An Era . . .
- Joseph . C . Obi (4 June 2004)
-
TWO WEEKS OF RAZZMATAZZ
- Pal Rita (5 June 2004)
-
Thank you Richard for 25+ years of service
- Manickam Ponniah (8 June 2004)
-
Sold down the river
- Alex Scott-Samuel (28 June 2004)
-
Re: Sold down the river
- Peter Morrell (29 June 2004)
-
Re: Re: Sold down the river
- Jay Ilangaratne (30 June 2004)
-
Re: Re: Sold down the river
- Mark Struthers (30 June 2004)
-
Re: Re: Re: Sold down the river
- Ellen CG Grant (1 July 2004)
-
I don't believe in principle but, oh I do in interest
- Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich (1 July 2004)
-
Re: Re: Sold down the river
- Joseph C Watine (5 July 2004)
-
principles
- Peter Morrell (6 July 2004)
-
Re: principles
- Joseph C Watine (7 July 2004)
|
|
|||
|
Gabriel Symonds, General Practitioner Tokyo, Japan
Send response to journal:
|
While I wish Dr Richard Smith well in his new post, I do hope that his successor will pay more attention to the correct use of English grammar and style in the BMJ than has been the case for so long during Dr Smith's tenure. A random glance through the current issue reveals examples of poor choice of words, unnecessary words and a vulgarity which I would not expect to see in a serious medical journal. On the cover:
"A confessional (or 'balls up') box from BMJ research papers?"
P 1269
p 1275
P 1276
P1291, Title
Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Joseph . C . Obi, Professor Of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Research ; School Of Natural Medicine , Larnarca , Cyprus , European Union .
Send response to journal:
|
Professor Richard Smith CBE is (most certainly) someone who we all shall very dearly miss...whether or not we candidly thought that he sometimes came across as some sort of 'Cheeky Little Gnome'. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) will never ever be the same again. Good Luck , Richard. We love you. Competing interests: Professor Joseph Chikelue Obi MBBS MD MPH DSc FRIPH FACAM is also the Chairman of the General Wellness Assembly (GWA); an International Professional Body for Independent Wellness Consultants . He humbly invented the 'Omnipill'. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Pal Rita, Editor www.nhs-exposed.com
Send response to journal:
|
Dear BMJ, I realise the oldest relic in the magazine is now leaving. Having been repotted by some huge company with bags of finances, I hope they ensure Richard has enough baby bio to grow more hair and be more adventurous in his style of editing :) These two weeks of Richard's Red Book and " This is your life" is becoming tiresome. Richard had to move on one day. There was a time when I had hoped it would be sooner rather than later. These days though, having grown old and grey myself, I have become more accepting of Richard's difficuties as editor. Clearly, the stresses of litigation and problematic and demanding posters have taken a toll on the colour of his hair :) Jesting aside, I would like to thank Richard for his inspiration for me creating and editing NHS Exposed. It was Richard's debate's and challenge that led me to prove to him that even I can print material that is daring without being sued. Those were the days when even Richard graced the floors of the Rapid Response section to engage in debate. He infamously stated that because the counter was so low four years ago, the material libellous or not would not matter. Four years later, people do read the site and Richard has never quite accepted the role he has played within NHS Exposed. Richard and I have hardly ever agreed over the years. Nevertheless, I continue to have a certain respect for him and his work. I for one shall certainly miss him. I hope the next editor will be as dashing, charming and roguelike as the present one :) I certainly wish him well for the future. Best Wishes Dr Rita Pal www.nhs-exposed.com Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Manickam Ponniah, Research Officer National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR), PO Box 2577, Chennai, India 600 031.
Send response to journal:
|
Dear BMJ, As a young researcher from India, I would forever remember Prof. Richard Smith for the following: * Real-time theme issues (including 'Health in South Asia' and 'How
electronic communication is changing health care')
While BMA is grateful to him for 'creating a flourishing business', readers are grateful to him for reshaping and providing the prestigious medical journal online. Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Alex Scott-Samuel, Joint Chair, Politics of Health Group 218 Allerton Road, Liverpool, L18 6JN
Send response to journal:
|
Could I voice what many in the NHS are currently saying - that BMJ editor Dr Richard Smith and Tony Blair's number 10 health adviser Simon Stevens have sold the NHS down the river for a pocketful of United Health Group dollars. While the actions of the previously principled Dr Smith could merely be regarded as foolish and misguided, those of Mr Stevens are much more serious. In committing himself to leading United Health Group's opportunistic takeover bid for Primary Care Trust commissioning, he is taking advantage of a market imbalance explicitly created by his own policies. Had Stevens remained as the PM's adviser he would resumably have sought to correct the 'commissioning imbalance' by promoting PCT mergers or by shifting responsibility for commissioning to a more appropriate level such as the Strategic Health Authorities. If United Health Group and others like them realise their objective of dominating NHS commissioning, we will have a second 'Private Finance Initiative situation' whereby NHS funds are used to generate private sector profit for undertaking work that the NHS should be doing - in the former case, local commissioning of services; in the latter, obtaining public sector funds for capital expansion. And UK taxpayers will effectively be funding Smith and Stevens' six-figure salaries. Yours sincerely, Alex Scott-Samuel Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Peter Morrell, Hon Research Associate, History of Medicine Staffordshire University, UK
Send response to journal:
|
When Alex Scott-Samuel refers to the editor of BMJ as “the previously principled Dr Smith” [1] then perhaps he should weigh his words with greater care. This is afterall the same Richard Smith who dithered rather longer than a “principled” person would about whether to resign his professorship at Nottingham University over some tobacco money. It is also the same Richard Smith who published the most disgraceful obituary [to David Horrobin] in the history of BMJ and then consistently refused to apologise for the upset he had caused. How can such actions be construed as anything approaching those of a “principled” man? Principled by whose definition? While Alex Scott-Samuel implies by the rather snide title of his post--every man has his price-- yet it is not principles that have been sold down the river as there were none there in the first place. [1] Alex Scott-Samuel, Sold down the river, BMJ e-letter, 28 June 2004 http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/eletters/328/7451/1276-a#64566 Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Jay Ilangaratne, Founder Medical-Journals.com
Send response to journal:
|
Well said,Peter Morrell. Competing interests: Race Discrimination claim involving BMA and Dr Smith at the EAT |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Mark Struthers, GP Bedfordshire, UK
Send response to journal:
|
A ‘man of principle’ would not depart the editorship of a British and enormously prestigious medical journal to join a massive American healthcare company intent on scavenging money from the NHS. Is this what Peter Morrell is trying to say? By way of attack, is that not a tad ‘ad hominem’, just a touch snide, just a little unprincipled? I feel sure that Richard Smith has a broad back and a ducks back - from which water runs…….. but the Americans?? Competing interests: experience of recent humiliating dressing down for playing the ‘ad hominem’ game against the BMJ (and the Americans) |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Ellen CG Grant, physican and medical gynaecologist 20 Coombe Ridings, Kingston-upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 7JU,Uk
Send response to journal:
|
Well said, Peter Morrell and the author of the David Horrobin obituary is still writing for the BMJ. I begged Richard Smith to publish our informative paper on zinc deficiency and dyslexia in 1989. Humbly, I said, I thought it was one of the most important papers he would ever receive. He agreed to publish, but only 200 words and only 5 references and none of the graphs which explained the different results with sweat, hair and serum assessments in zinc deficiency.1 The seminal findings which highlighted the importance of zinc for brain development and function, and how zinc deficiency can be reliably and accurately assessed, have been ignored. Unnecessary confusion over zinc deficiency tests remain to this day. This is a tragedy for humanity and for millions of children and parents. The Lancet is soon to publish my letter of protest because their recent Seminar review of dyslexia did not mention preconception care prevention, or medical treatment of dyslexia, for example by using low allergy diets, zinc and EFAs to improve impaired brain function.2 However, Richard should be congratulated for setting up Rapid Responses which have been a brilliant way to communicate "hard to get published" anti-establishment ideas and information and to point out the obvious flaws in otherwise unchallenged studies. Liz Price and I were also grateful to Richard for publishing our review letter of breast cancer risks with HRT in 1996 in a Table with more than the usual allowance of references.3 This was because the BMJ had printed a string of letters claiming that HRT did not increase breast cancer risks, as we had claimed.4 The quoted studies did not stand up to close scrutiny and now the WHI results have confirmed the higher risks of breast cancer with progesterones than with oestrogens alone. My graphs of the registration data showing the rise, fall and huge rise in the incidence of breast cancer, with matching changes in hormone use are easy to see in electronic rsponses.5 Mostly, I thank you Richard and wish you well. 1 Grant ECG, Howard JM ,Davies S, Chasty H, Hornsby B, Galbraith J. Zinc deficiency in children with dyslexia: concentrations of zinc and other minerals in sweat and hair. BMJ 1989;296:607-9. 2 Grant ECG. Developmental dyslexia and zinc deficiency. Lancet 2004 in proof 3 Grant ECG , Anthony HM, Myhill S, Price E, Steel CM .Breast cancer and hormone exposure. Lancet 1996;348:682 4 Price EH, Little HF. Women need to be fully informed about the risks of hormone replacement therapy. BMJ 1996;312:130 5 Grant ECG.Increases in breast cancer incidence http://bmj.com/cgi/eletters/328/7445/921#55298, 1 Apr 2004 Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Dr. Herbert H. Nehrlich, Private Practice Bribie Island, Australia 4507
Send response to journal:
|
My first DILEMMA of the season. I like both Peter Morrell and Richard Smith. I have long ago forgiven the latter's inept handling of the David Horrobin obituary and have not seen any other 'faux-pas' worth fretting about. I think that most of his comments were informative, pertinent and timely, many were clear proof that the author was -for lack of a better word- surprisingly, very human. I had always thought that it would take no less than a cold, stuffy, nerdy and inflexible person to play editor to a Medical Journal but found out differently. I am sorry to see him go, for reasons having to do with the above observations as well as with the old wisdom about the 'Devil you know'. Why begrudge him a better position? In closing, I was wondering about the bike. Did you, Dr. Smith, take my recommendations about a vehicle change to heart as yet? If not why not? You won't be able to show up on a bike working for the Yanks! Instant salary reduction and status demerit points. The model is a 6.9......! Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Joseph C Watine, Consultant, Laboratory Medicine Hôpital de Rodez, France
Send response to journal:
|
Having read Peter Morrell’s short letter, I find it difficult to understand why Richard Smith would not be a “principled” man. One thing is clear however: in accepting to publish Peter Morrell’s short letter, Richard Smith demonstrates that he is very open to discussion and to free speech, which is a very good principle. Therefore, in my view, Richard Smith is not an “unprincipled” man. Competing interests: I like Peter Morrell's style very much. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Peter Morrell, Hon Research Associate, History of Medicine Staffordshire University, UK
Send response to journal:
|
I am not entirely clear what Joseph Watine means by my ‘style,’ but I would entirely agree with him that Richard Smith has done a splendid job of encouraging free speech by making BMJ an excellent 'open all hours' global discussion forum. However, he does this much to the chagrin of those who think that open discussion of health issues somehow comprises an affront to the dignity of the profession. Though I agree with Joseph Watine that it is a good principle to encourage free speech, I have to disagree with him that this somehow confers upon Richard Smith the cache of being a ‘principled man’ in any wider sense. Without wishing to belabour the original point, it would be hard to regard as ‘highly principled’ a person who knowingly published--and paid someone to write--the Horrobin obituary, who then refused to apologise for the upset that obituary caused, who refused to withdraw it, who still employs the same obituary writer on BMJ, and who dithered enormously over whether to resign a professorship when Nottingham University was accepting tobacco money. Quite simply, a more highly principled person would not have done these things. A highly principled person puts influence and reputation and concern for the sensitivity of others above their own self-interest; they have to weigh the impact of their words and deeds upon the people they serve. Such a person would have resigned their professorship much quicker; would never have touched such an obituary with a barge pole; would have swiftly apologised for publishing the obituary, as a genuine error of judgement, amended it or withdrawn it; would never employ such an obituary writer again [unless they apologised too], would have freely and openly acknowledged the error...etc. These seem like the reliable hallmarks of a more principled person. What seems to have appalled people most is that here was a man in a responsible and influential post, who was not prepared to do these things, not prepared to rectify their past mistakes, unwilling to show any contrition or even acknowledge that they were responsible for an error of any kind. Surely, these are all self-evident aspects of this tragic case? Perhaps the only good thing that flows from all this is that people do recognise that an error was made and are able to freely discuss it; and we can thank Richard Smith for that. When Dali once said that it is very often the mistakes, between paint and brush, which are of greater interest to the artist than the skilful strokes that were imparted deliberately to the canvas, he perhaps implied that true progress only occurs through accidents: “mistakes are almost always of a sacred nature. Never try to correct them - on the contrary: rationalize them, understand them thoroughly - after that, it will be possible for you to sublimate them.” However, it is hard to see how Richard Smith might apply this advice in the field of medical journalism. And I find there is always room for agreement with Herbert Nehrlich on most matters. Competing interests: None declared |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Joseph C Watine, Consultant, Laboratory Medicine Hôpital de Rodez, France
Send response to journal:
|
Peter Morrell, what I meant when I wrote that I like your style very much, is not only that your English sounds very good to me, but also that you do not fear to write what has to be written, remaining always polite. Your arguments may seem to be a little bit of a caricature sometimes, but these caricatures of yours are also part of your style, and I like them very much too. By the way, the caricature you made of Richard Smith reminds me of Mr.Pickwick. Quite fun! Competing interests: None declared |
|||