Ofcom rule that Sky News' presentation of the Perrin Technique was "not duly accurate or duly impartial"

[Andy]

It could be argued that Ofcom here demonstrate a better ability to analyse the results of a research paper than the MRC....

Rule 5.1 requires broadcasters to present news with due accuracy. It is our Decision that requirement was not met in this case. These reports were based on the results of a small published study that investigated the diagnostic accuracy of the Perrin Technique. However,
the reports conflated the diagnosis and treatment of CFS/ME. In doing so, they suggested
that the Perrin Technique was effective in both diagnosing and treating the condition.
However, this was not supported by the results of the published study. We therefore considered that this conflation of the effectiveness of the Perrin Technique as a diagnostic method and treatment did not accurately reflect the research findings.

In our Preliminary View, we also noted that the reports stated that the Perrin Technique had
an “86% success rate” in diagnosing ME in early testing. We queried the accuracy of this
claim given it reflected the diagnostic accuracy of a more experienced Perrin Technique
practitioner, but not a less experienced practitioner. Sky argued this figure was a simplification of the data presented in the study, and was not misleading. On balance, whilst there were a number of ways the statistical information in the report could have been presented in a distilled manner, we accept one of these was to report the “success rate” by reference to the accuracy of a more experienced practitioner. However, as set out above, we consider the inaccuracy arose from conflation in the reports of effective diagnosis with effective treatment.

Ofcom’s Decision is therefore that the reports were not duly accurate or duly impartial, in
breach of Rule 5.1 of the Code.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/ass...ue-360-ofcom-broadcast-on-demand-bulletin.pdf, skip to p. 20 for the start of this specific ruling.

 

[Sly Saint]

@Trish

you emailed/commented on a couple websites where they were making similar claims; any chance you could send them a copy of this ruling?

https://www.s4me.info/threads/clinic-offering-perrin-technique-one-for-trading-standards.4917/
https://www.s4me.info/posts/98961/

 

[Esther12]

why didn't MEA spell out the problems(?) or maybe they did and Sky didn't want to know(?)
Can someone ask the MEA about this.

It probably is difficult for them to provide a high quality response about every piece of research the MEA are asked to comment on. The way Sky interpreted the MEA comment could show the advantage of including a general comment like "we have serious concerns that some patients are being encouraged to spend their time and money on interventions that lack any good evidence of efficacy".

edit: @Andy posts more from the MEA in the next post, and it looks like they did say something very similar! Bad Sky.

 

[Andy]

eta:
This bit is worrying:
"
Sky News told Ofcom that it had no reason to doubt the accuracy or integrity of the research. It said that it had approached the ME Association3 for its view on the finding and the Association’s response was that it neither recommended or endorsed the technique. Sky News argued this response was neutral and effectively amounted to a “no comment”. While accepting that it was important to reflect a range of views and to remain impartial, the Licensee argued that the ME Association’s response in effect “provided an absence of opinion which would have been of questionable value to the viewer”. However, Sky News also told Ofcom that, on reflection, it considered that the audience should have been
informed of the ME Association’s response."

why didn't MEA spell out the problems(?) or maybe they did and Sky didn't want to know(?)
Can someone ask the MEA about this.

If you read further on in the judgement, Ofcom say

Sky News told Ofcom that it had contacted the ME Association to get its view on the Technique. In a statement (which was not broadcast) the ME Association told the Licensee that while it was aware of The Perrin Technique, it was not something it would recommend or endorse. It went on to clearly state that in its view the key to finding a cure to the illness lies in biomedical research. The Association added “with no current drug treatments available, patients are often desperate and will do anything – pay anything – for treatments which are at best scientifically unproven and at worst, damaging”. The Association added early and accurate diagnosis of ME was crucial and there is strong evidence to suggest that the quicker patients are diagnosed, the better they are able to manage their health. Therefore the ME Association was funding new research at Oxford University which it hoped would help to develop a definitive diagnostic test for the illness.

Sky News argued this statement was “neutral” and effectively a “no comment” on the study. Ofcom disagreed. In our view the statement from the ME Association took a clear position on the Technique which was at odds with how the reports presented it. Email exchanges between Sky News and the ME Association showed that the Association offered an opportunity to speak with its medical adviser, to give “a more in-depth picture on why it's not something we endorse”. In our view, this email exchange clearly indicated that the ME Association was not neutral on this subject. Freely available information online also makes clear that the ME Association’s medical adviser has expressed reservations about the Technique in the past.

Ofcom considered that this perspective from a leading ME charity would have been critical to the audience’s understanding that there is an alternative view of the Perrin Technique. Ofcom considered that excluding the alternative view of a leading ME charity, of which Sky News was aware, which was sceptical about the use of the Technique as a diagnostic or treatment method, was a significant omission. It meant viewers were denied a substantive counterpoint to the highly positive portrayal of the Perrin Technique as both a method of diagnosis and treatment for CFS/ME.

So Ofcom are of the opinion that Sky essentially weren't interested in representing the MEAs counter-opinion.

 

[InitialConditions]

I really wish Raymond Perrin would stop with the bombastic claims, because I actually think his theory holds some weight. I am convinved the lymphatic system plays a big role in this illness. I'm glad he worked together with researchers and NHS clinicians to write the paper in BMJ, and I do think there may be scope for accurate assessment of ME using physical characteristics. But this is still a theory. There really is very little evidence backing up his claims. For example, his theory is build on the idea of varicose lymphatics, which I find interesting because I can feel exactly what he describes in my own neck and chest area. But you search for 'varicose lymphatics' on google and you get next to zero relevent results (except those from content written about the Perrin Technique). He's really talking a different language to most clinicians.

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

He's really talking a different language to most clinicians.

I think he is talking the same language but he is using the words in a way that makes no anatomical sense. He talks of a tender point over the left breast related to the thoracic duct. But the thoracic duct is way deep inside the ribcage. I don't see how you are going to get varicose lymphatics in the head and neck because they are above the heart and so under no hydrostatic pressure. His account is sort of free-wheeling looniness without a scrap of evidence (as you say).

 

[adambeyoncelowe]

I think he is talking the same language but he is using the words in a way that makes no anatomical sense. He talks of a tender point over the left breast related to the thoracic duct. But the thoracic duct is way deep inside the ribcage. I don't see how you are going to get varicose lymphatics in the head and neck because they are above the heart and so under no hydrostatic pressure. His account is sort of free-wheeling looniness without a scrap of evidence (as you say).

 

[arewenearlythereyet]

free-wheeling looniness without a scrap of evidence

Now that is a great tagline...I’ll have to bank that one for future use

 

[Adrian]

I think he is talking the same language but he is using the words in a way that makes no anatomical sense.

Is that the medical equivalent of the Morecambe and Wise's sketch to i'm playing all the right notes just not in the right order?

 

[Adrian]

So Ofcom are of the opinion that Sky essentially weren't interested in representing the MEAs counter-opinion.

I think this is interesting. In the past I have complained to the BBC about their coverage of PACE/Crawleys work and their failure to put other view points. Being the BBC they dismiss such complaints claiming they have over coverage that balances (which they don't). So this ruling from ofcom is interesting.

 

[Sly Saint]

another one claiming cure by perrin technique; tweet from MEA thread re Gary Burgess

https://me-living.info/

Physical signs are then used to complete the diagnosis.

• Varicose lymphatics - I had visibly congested lymph vessels in the breast area.
• Tenderness at two specific points on the thorax - I had some tenderness at the two defined points - the solar plexus and a point diagonally above the left nipple. When the second point (referred to as 'Perrin's Point') was examined, I had an extreme reaction - almost like a whole body electric shock - followed by involuntary tears.
• Spinal problem - at the point roughly between the shoulder blades, I had a flattening of the spine identified to be causing inflammation.
• Abnormal cranio-sacral rhythm - an osteopathic concept that describes a pulsation of the system consisting of bones of the head, sacrum (a triangular bone in the lower back), and spinal column.

 

[Trish]

another one claiming cure by perrin technique; tweet from MEA thread re Gary Burgess

I haven't read all the details on this person's website, but enough to say he shouldn't be advertising the Perrin technique on the basis of his personal story. It's an anecdote, no more.

Note - he only got sick in January this year and now claims to be recovered after lots of Perrin treatment and other stuff including pacing.

He's just launched his website which reads like an advertisement for the Perrin technique, even though he's only been back at work a few weeks and isn't fully exercising yet.

 

[ringding]

He's just launched his website which reads like an advertisement for the Perrin technique, even though he's only been back at work a few weeks and isn't fully exercising yet.

I've skimmed through, but he does at least have a comment from Perrin at the end which lays out his position on it (it's not a cure all and won't work for all with ME).
He could do with putting it up front really!
https://me-living.info/blog/f/feedback-from-dr-raymond-perrin

 

[Dolphin]

A number of years ago, people heard from a Perrin Technique clinic there was going to be a feature on the condition on a particular radio programme on national radio. When the piece was on, the individual with ME or CFS seemed very keen to shoehorn the Perrin technique and the particular clinic into the conversation. I often wondered had the individual an undeclared conflict of interest e.g. had been offered free or reduced price treatment sessions.