Following all the hoo-ha we’ve seen recently over the cervical cancer vaccination, it was with some interest I noted that the Daily Mail hailed “Cervical cancer wiped out by pioneering use of ‘amazing’ osteoporosis drugs“. Journalist Fiona MacRae went on to excitedly tell us that “Cervical cancer can be destroyed by drugs used to treat breast cancer and osteoporosis, a study suggests. In results described as ‘amazing’ by researchers, one of the treatments eliminated the cancer in 11 out of 13 cases”. It almost sounds too good to be true, and indeed eight paragraphs into the article Ms MacRae mentions that “The initial results come from experiments in mice”. The actual study abstract can be found here.
Author Archives: Paul
No Evidence Allowed: The Government on Pseudoscience & Homeopathy
As recently mentioned, the firing of Professor David Nutt has brought into focus politics’ deep seated discomfort with scientific evidence. In a world where vague weasel words are part of day-to-day survival, the scientific method’s disregard for political ideology can understandably create no end of problems for politicians with an agenda.
However, the government has at least had the decency to practically admit as much. There are systems in place which attempt to hold the government accountable for the way they use evidence in policy decisions. The Commons Science and Technology Committee (CSTC) “exists to ensure that Government policy and decision-making are based on good scientific and engineering advice and evidence”. The committee recently selected a number of areas for enquiry and asked the relevant government departments to explain the evidence used to justify their policy decisions Continue reading
Nobody Expects the Nazi Inquisition
The recent sacking of Professor David Nutt, head of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, marked a moment of extreme importance in our society, as it provided journalists the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how spectacularly witty they are. Of some secondary importance was the implication that science and politics do not make for happy bed-fellows. Something about all that evidence getting in the way of real politicking.
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The Homo’s Made Us Do It
I think I can honestly say I’ve never been rendered speechless with anger before. However thanks to a one page document recently released by Archbishop Silvano Tomasi, I am delighted to report that I am fully capable of being struck dumb by pure, unadulterated fury.
Ipso Factoid: SUNDAY EXPRESS MORE DEADLY THAN VACCINE
The UK media was feeling pretty smug last week, due to the fact they single-handedly averted the cervical-cancer-vaccine-Armageddon. The tragic death of Natalie Morton mere hours after receiving the human papillomavirus vaccine could have been a story straight from heaven for a media constantly denied the tales of horror they feel they so deserve. Those damn scientists just refuse to prove that the vaccines we are pumping into our children are turning them into autistic dead people.