[ASC-list] Statins proving to be a good debate for the understanding of medical research

[Susan Kirk]

As one who treats big Pharma with heavy scepticism; one with a history of
familial hypercholesterolemia,and one that stopped taking statins over a
year ago. I've been watching this debate with interest.   My CV risk has
increased recently and I now have to make a decision about whether to
continue taking this drug, more particularly whether it will reduce my risk
and I believe the 'jury is still out.'

But interestingly, the issues which began with a catalyst program
http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/heartofthematter/ might be a large lesson to
all about the proper analyses of medical research and could be a bit of an
eye opener, I believe, for the medical profession, who as Dr Ernest Curtis
says, "tend to learn by route and are not critical thinkers." and quotes Max
Plank (German Physicist) saying "new scientific theories are never adopted
because the proponents of the old theories are brought around and see the
light rather they have to die off and the next generation have to look at it
anew and that's true."  He can't understand why the medical profession even
accepted the pathological process of atherosclerosis.
  
For those with a subscription to Medical Observer there has been some
murmurings.  Before the airing they called for the ABC to stop the program,
based on fears by the medical profession that patients will discontinue
statins 
http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/fears-patients-will-be-scared-off-sta
tins#comments

Then this: http://vitualis.com/?p=505 which looks at a more critical way of
deciding whether a patient (low risk) should be prescribed statins.  The
outcome, no.  But seriously how much time does a Dr have to go through the
process?

Today we have this commentary
http://www.medicalobserver.com.au/news/catalyst-program-may-kill-people-abc-
presenter-says?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews+05-11+new+format&utm_cont
ent=enews+05-11+new+format+CID_bb15733850737fb316a16d06bbbec62e&utm_source=E
mail%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Catalyst%20program%20may%20kill%20peopl
e%20ABC%20presenter%20says

with some comments that need closer analysis (sorry if I keep spelling this
word wrong) and interpretation. People will die.  Well I think that's at the
heart of the debate isn't it?  Apparently the statins don't stop you dying.
Then we have a statement about Aboriginal people?? Then Norman Swan, now
respectfully, but really?  ³But nobody ever died of taking a statin, as far
as I¹m aware. But if you are at high risk of heart disease, and you throw
away your statins and go back to a bad diet, you could die.²  Yes going back
to a bad diet is a def no no.  But what about this in the book The Great
Cholesterol Con that states "the original statin cerivastatin was
voluntarily withdrawn after killing rather too many people."

Now back to me celebrations.....

S



Susan Fairbairn (nee Kirk)   B.comm  freelance Journalist
Member and Queensland Web Editor -  Australian Science Communicators (ASC)
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA)
tel: +61 7 5478 6761 | mobile: 0414645953 | email: susan at susankirk.com.au
www.susankirk.com.au |  Skype: susanakirk | Tweet: @SusanAKirk
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³If you don¹t ask the right questions you won¹t get the right answers.²