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

[Phillip Arena]

Hi Susan,

Thanks for this. 

I also found a few of the ABC Health report programs on ‘statins’ etc,
particularly illuminating.

For example:

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/statins/3868932

Regards

Phil 

On 5/11/2013 2:10 pm, "Susan Kirk" <skirk at iprimus.com.au> wrote:

>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-s
>ta
>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-ab
>c-
>presenter-says?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=enews+05-11+new+format&utm_co
>nt
>ent=enews+05-11+new+format+CID_bb15733850737fb316a16d06bbbec62e&utm_source
>=E
>mail%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Catalyst%20program%20may%20kill%20peo
>pl
>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
>Facebook group: Plant Power
>
>³If you don¹t ask the right questions you won¹t get the right answers.²
>
>
>
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