Petition: S4ME 2023 - Cochrane: Withdraw the harmful 2019 Exercise therapy for CFS review

I don't Hilda think is independent any more as she has recently been awarded membership of Cochrane https://www.cochrane.org/news/cochrane-lifetime-and-emeritus-members. She was always very quick to say she was suitable for the role because she wasn't a member of the organisation any more (having left because of their lack of progress on open access), although she was a founder member.

 

Is it me, or do you think COPE is getting a bit desperate?

From: COPE
Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2024 am
To: Caroline Struthers
Subject: Concerns raised to COPE regarding Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

Dear Caroline,

I am writing in relation to your latest submission to COPE about Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

We have looked over the submission and note that it relates to the complaints procedure in place at Cochrane to handle complaints about staff or Cochrane group members, and not to matters related to publications in the journal. As a result, the matter you submitted does not relate to publication ethics but rather to governance at Cochrane. Such matters are beyond the scope of what the Facilitation and Integrity subcommittee can comment on and thus, we cannot review this matter.

Sincerely,

***

From: Me
Sent: Sunday February 18, 2024 pm
To: COPE

Dear ***

Cochrane produces a journal, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. I made an allegation that the Editor in Chief of that journal acted unethically in relation to the publication of an article in that journal. This is an allegation of publication misconduct, which is covered by COPE’s code of practice for journals. https://publicationethics.org/misconduct

You rightly say that Cochrane, whose staff include the Editor-in-Chief of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, has no procedure for investigating allegations of publication misconduct, despite it being a Core Practice for all journals set out by your organisation. Is this acceptable? Please ask the Facilitation and Integrity Subcommittee to comment on this or explain why it is acceptable and/or beyond their scope.

With best wishes

Caroline

 

Ever more Kafkaesque.

 

Lesser known in the anglo world, but this is so like The 12 tasks of Asterix / Les 12 travaux d'Asterix. Everyone seems to be suffering from notmydepartmentitis.

So, who is in charge of handling complaints about COPE not properly handling complaints about Cochrane not properly handling complaints about not properly handling complaints?

 

Definitely a more apposite literary reference.

 

Action for ME Twitter account report that
"The APPG has agreed to sign the S4ME open letter to Cochrane requesting urgent action to be taken on the 2019 ME/CFS Exercise Therapy Review"

 

https://www.change.org/p/cochrane-withdraw-the-harmful-2019-exercise-therapy-for-cfs-review

Current total is 10,522.

 

Great news!

 

Are they signing petition? Or open letter? Or both?


edit: apologies. I see it is the open letter.

 

Amazing news really!

 

https://www.change.org/p/cochrane-withdraw-the-harmful-2019-exercise-therapy-for-cfs-review

Current total is 10,536.

 

Just to highlight that the link in this section of the update is broken,
"An update from the Cochrane IAG
There was an update from Cochrane's Independent Advisory Group for the planned new review on 20 December 2023 - available here "

 

Fine work everyone who got us to 70!!!

 

Hi,

I've had a look at group signatures and I cannot see the Chester MESH self help group.

Can this organisation be added please?

Can you let me know the procedure for groups and organisations to sign and I can share.

Many thanks
Joan