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Esther Crawley gets 'commendation' at 2017 Maddox Prize awards.

Discussion in 'General ME/CFS news' started by Esther12, Dec 1, 2017.

  1. Allele

    Allele Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Yes, this is why they eventually pivoted to "highly vocal organised minority" or whatever whilst continuing their misinfo and diminishment of housebound bedbound sick people.

    *edited for: greater accuracy
     
  2. Forbin

    Forbin Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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  3. Barry

    Barry Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    I think it likely a fair number of high profile scientists maybe receive some pretty nasty vitriol from nasty people - statistics and human nature make it inevitable unfortunately. There is one major difference though: Those confident in their science and committed to good scientific process, will not be accusing their genuine critics of harassment. I'm sure it would go against all they stand for. Totally unprincipled.
     
    Last edited: Dec 8, 2017
  4. Jonathan Edwards

    Jonathan Edwards Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    As indicated previously, I wrote to Colin Blakemore to voice my concerns some time back. I then contacted the chair of the trustees, Paul Hardaker and have also copied in Lord Rees, who was on the panel with Blakemore and Tracey Brown, and Lord and Lady Taverne, who set up SAS.

    I have had helpful responses from both Blakemore and Rees, indicating that they agree there are issues with making commendations on the basis of single testimonials from research associates. Blakemore indicated that he was not very happy with the procedure at the time and Rees agrees in retrospect that it needs to be reviewed. Hardaker made no specific comment but forwarded my correspondence to Tracey Brown indicating that I should expect a response from her. Maybe I should also contact Natasha Loder, although, unlike Blakemore and Rees she is not someone I have come into contact with.
     
  5. Allele

    Allele Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Thank you so much for this, JE.
     
    ladycatlover, Sean, Moosie and 9 others like this.
  6. BurnA

    BurnA Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Natasha Loder:


    This would be the ultimate test, is she brave enough to judge the organisation for which she is invited to adjudicate?

    She was part of the panel discussion with Wessely last year.


     
  7. Esther12

    Esther12 Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    [edit: Actually - it could have been Tracey Brown, and I got the wrong end of the stick at the time] I think that Loder was the 'facilitator' at the Sense About Science Maddox prize meeting where Wessely was being praised for his bravery, and it seemed that she was not interested in criticism of him there during the Q&A:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 5, 2018
  8. BurnA

    BurnA Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    I got the impression she was on the panel not a facilitator.

    If so I don't think i would interpret her silence in that passage as meaning she was not interested.

    ETA I wasn't there so I don't know!
     
  9. Esther12

    Esther12 Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Thanks - I've edited my comment. I was under the impression it was Loder, but now that I think back I have no idea where I first got that impression from.
     
  10. Jonathan Edwards

    Jonathan Edwards Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    I have not seen this before from the inaugural award in 2012:

    Fang Shi-min, a freelance science journalist based in Beijing, was awarded the Prize for his bravery and determination in standing up to threats to his life to uncover clinics promoting unproven treatments, and to bring a wide public readership to the importance of looking for evidence. Simon Wessely, Professor of Psychological Medicine at King’s College London, was awarded the Prize for his ambition and courage in the field of ME (chronic fatigue syndrome) and Gulf War syndrome, and the way he has dealt bravely with intimidation and harassment when speaking about his work and that of colleagues.
     
    Inara, EzzieD, ladycatlover and 8 others like this.
  11. BurnA

    BurnA Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Fang Shi-min uncovering clinics promoting unproven treatments, sharing a prize with Wessely, leading clinics promoting unproven treatments.

    You couldn't make it up.

    Maybe Fang should base himself in the UK for a while.
     
  12. Jonathan Edwards

    Jonathan Edwards Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    So it is now over a month since Colin Blakemore indicated that he would pass my concerns on to Tracey Brown and over a fortnight since hardcore did the same. I have heard nothing.

    I have, however, heard from Lord and Lady Taverne (both), Colin Blakemore and Lord Rees, all of whom expressed concern that the commendation was not grounded in adequate assessment. Interestingly it looks as if a senior immunologist now involved in the CureMe project at London School of Hygiene worked with Janice Taverne when she was in the same department as Jo Cambridge and I thirty years ago. Janice was interested in what was going on at LSHTM.

    Paul Hardaker, the chair of the board, expressed no comment and nor did Natasha Loder who just thanked me for keeping her informed.

    I am not proposing to enquire again. I think I understand where everyone sits.
     
  13. BurnA

    BurnA Senior Member (Voting Rights)

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    Thanks for trying.

    So much for Natasha Loder.
     
    Luther Blissett, Inara, Barry and 5 others like this.

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