PACE trial TSC and TMG minutes ordered released

Just received decision in the post. Not read it all but ICO has ordered release of TSC and TMG minutes.

 

I think that is great. I think there are serious questions about the approval of the outcome switching and what was given as reasons to the committees.

 

Well done! Why those committees didn't seem to exercise appropriate oversight has always been a big question.

 

Excellent....is that trial steering committee and management? committee.

 

Excellent! Another bad day for the psyches.

 

TSC and TMG What do they stand for?

 

Trial Steering Committee and Trial Management Group.

 

Yes.

 

Well done @JohnTheJack! Thank you!

 

Thanks. It relied heavily on data released by Alem so it's very much his work as well.

35 calendar days to release. They can appeal, but decision suggests there have been negotiations between QMUL and ICO on what can be redacted, and my impression is that this time they won't appeal.

 

Be interesting to see what they redact.

 

Two possible scenarios of the kind of things that might be redacted:

"Look guys, I'm sorry to tell you it's looking as if the results will be shit unless we change this, drop that, tweak this and ignore that, and bring in statisticians expert in fiddling results. So hands up all those in agreement with allowing us to carry out these changes?....Great, thanks lads for the unanimous vote. See you at the health insurance industry's annual bash next week in the Seychelles."

or

" Yes I know Mrs Boniface, this isn't the sort of thing you have expertise in as chairperson of the Oxfordshire WVS, yes it is all very complicated and the statistics are hard to grasp I know, but I can assure you that all the changes we are proposing are perfectly legitimate and in accord with the very highest level of research practice, all you have to do is trust us, you know we're psychiatrists of the highest integrity with the patients best interests at heart."

 

One wonders at what stage someone thinks it worth applying for "whistleblower" status. It would surely be in the public interest.

 

Well we could play guess the redaction for some sport. A bit like on "have I got news for You" where they guess the headlines

 

Yep
we could project selective quotes onto buildings for Millions Missing.....

 

Amazing work.

I'd just been discussing making a request for those, but had been dreading the amount of work I thoght it would be. It will be very interesting to just read the ICO report, and see how QMUL tried to argue against release.

Thank you so much for this.

 

What is the ICO? What is the significance of this for members who don't know the legal setup in the UK?

 

The ICO is the Information Commissioner's Office: "The UK’s independent authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, promoting openness by public bodies and data privacy for individuals."

QMUL must either now comply with the ICO's ruling or go to court to fight it, I think.