What Help?

Help! I need somebody

Help! Not just anybody

Help! You know I need someone

Help!

Lennon & McCartney 1965

--

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

Mmm, I get high with a little help from my friends

Mmm, gonna try with a little help from my friends

Lennon & McCartney 1967

British newspapers were, once again, leading the way today with information regarding the latest brain pellet study that delivers a swift kick in the gonads to drug companies, regulators and prescribers.

The Sun and The Daily Mail ran with headlines, "‘Rare but serious’ risk of suicide for patients on antidepressants, new findings reveal" and "New health alert over antidepressants as study finds a 'rare but serious' risk of suicide for patients on pills."

The Mail's article was penned by Ben Spencer (Medical Correspondent for the Daily Mail), whilst The Sun's piece was written by Gemma Mullin (Digital Health Reporter for The Sun)

Whilst I'm always grateful to the British media for highlighting the suicide risk when taking brain pellets, I still get irked by journalists who take quotes from the Royal College of Psychiatrists on good faith.

Both articles feature a direct quote from Wendy Burn, who is President of the Royal College. Her quote seems to be the trump card played by spokespersons speaking on behalf of the industry but it is rarely questioned. This is where the mainstream media are failing. No pressing questions just an acceptance.

Burn's quote left me thinking that the media have almost come to accept the word of psychiatry as a congregation would of a priest delivering a sermon.

"It is vital that people prescribed antidepressants are monitored closely, made aware of possible side effects and know how to seek help if they experience them.", Burn proclaimed. This after Study leader, Dr Michael Hengartner, of Zurich University in Switzerland, said: "We can be confident that these drugs are producing an excess rate of suicides, beyond the depression itself." He added, "There is no doubt that this must be a response to the pharmacological effect of the drugs themselves."

Burn was never asked by either journalist whom patients should seek help from or, indeed, how, when one is feeling suicidal because of the inducement of akathisia, they can actually think straight, lift up a phone receiver and dial a number for help, on the proviso, of course, that there is such a number to dial. Quite how Burn and other spokespersons from the college get away with such comments leaves me bewildered.

In the past, Burn & Co have recommended that patients speak to their doctors. I find this perverse, don't you?

According to Burn's logic, those who have been prescribed brain pellets that are causing suicidal thoughts should go back to the very same person who prescribed them!

In 1978 more than 900 Americans – members of a San Francisco-based religious group called the Peoples Temple – died after drinking poison at the urging of their leader, the Reverend Jim Jones. Let's imagine for one minute if a spokesperson for a toxicology department had said back in 1978, "If you feel you have taken a substance that has caused you toxicity, we recommend you talk to the Reverend who will be able to help you."

Flippant of me yet you can't deny the facts here.

The media need to ask Wendy Burn exactly what plans are in place to help those suffering at the hands of these mind-altering brain pellets, be it those who are suffering severe withdrawal problems or those who are feeling suicidal because of them.

Wendy Burn is offering false hope to those she and her colleagues prescribe to. What she is saying is 'some people' may have difficulty but, hey, don't worry if you are one of those unfortunate souls who gets the urge to kill yourself "help" is just around the corner. The thing is, Burn and her colleagues have been standing on these street corners for years, first handing out the drugs, secondly, to send people to other corners when they complain of brain pellet withdrawal or feelings of suicidality. Sadly, all the corners are taken by her colleagues who are ready with their prescription pads to hand out yet more brain pellets to help with the suicidal thinking caused by the original prescription they handed out.

Quite why the media cannot see through her 'trump card' is beyond me.

Maybe one day a journalist with good investigative skills will probe the comments from the Royal College. You know, ask for evidence or perhaps the street address of any specialist in the UK who deals with brain pellet withdrawal and suicidality.

As I said at the top of this post, I'm grateful for the British media highlighting the risks of brain pellets but allowing throw away comments without following up those comments is poor journalism.

Wendy Burn blocked me on Twitter some months ago. Last week she had a change of heart and unblocked me. As I don't play to the tune of the piper, I immediately blocked her. I don't wish to correspond with anyone who will only address important issues when they are in a "good mood", least of all a President who, it has to be said, couldn't run a bath.

Maybe one day, the College will apologise to the families of all those who, through no fault of their own, have had to bury loved ones and suffer continuous heartache? I'm not holding my breath.

Michael P. Hengartner and Martin Plöder's study, Newer-Generation Antidepressants and Suicide Risk in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Re-Analysis of the FDA Database, can be read, in full, here.

Bob Fiddaman

I'll Just Leave This Here

I salute everyone involved in the making of 'Letters From A Generation RX', the filmmaker, the parents and children featured throughout the movie, the narrator.

"These are vital issues that speak to our morality as a nation, as a people. How can you turn your back on this?" ~ Kevin P. Miller -  Award-winning filmmaker

I really don't know what else to say other than watch and share this powerful segment.

I am in tears...again.

Bob Fiddaman

The ADD/ADHD Infomercial

The following video was posted on Facebook 7 years ago. It was sent to me by a concerned father, Alan Berkeley. I watched in utter disbelief at what can be best described as an infomercial broadcast on American TV.

I'm not going to spoil the content for you, sufficed to say, the guest appearance by Dr Edward Hallowell will have you wondering how, or indeed why, we ever bought into the methods of diagnosing ADD/ADHD.

Before viewing the video (below) it's worthy to note that this "expert" has had ties, in the past, to Eli Lilly, Novartis and McNeil Pediatrics. Further, he has been a paid consultant for Dore Clinics.

As if taking money from drug companies wasn't bad enough, in 2015 Hallowell was charged with indecent assault on a young make-up artist. The charge was later dropped by the young woman. Initially, he was accused of squeezing her buttocks. Hallowell, it was alleged, put his hand on her shoulder and touched her.  "He followed my shape and he took his time," the police report says.

When interviewed, police said he called the incident a "terrible misunderstanding."

This from the Metro News Daily

A motion to dismiss the case filed by Hallowell’s lawyer, Bill Crowe, on Aug. 28, shows a statement from the victim that she no longer believes Hallowell should be prosecuted. The statement, included in Crowe’s motion, reads in part:

“As time has passed and upon further reflection, I may have misconstrued Dr. Hallowell’s intention, as he did nothing beyond the initial contact. I do not wish Dr. Hallowell to be prosecuted or disciplined as a result of this incident.”

The motion also alleges that an admission that Hallowell was exonerated on similar charges in the past that was included in a police interview with Hallowell were inaccurate. According to the police report, Hallowell said he had faced similar accusations in the past but was exonerated on a “misunderstanding.” Previously, Crowe said the accusations referenced one incident from more than 20 years ago that “did not involve contact of any kind.”

The police report also said Hallowell did not dispute the victim’s claims that he touched her but said any inappropriate contact was “inadvertent.”

Back to the video. This highlights how we, as consumers, rarely question the ethics of diagnosing. It's worrisome, more so because today the Royal College of Psychiatrists announced that their Vice-Chair, Dr Jon Godlin, was in talks at 10 Downing Street to discuss how new teachers will be trained to spot mental health issues in their pupils.

If this video is anything to go by then you'll see how the future of our children is in the hands of nothing more than a stage act, an illusion, a magic show with potentially dire consequences.

Please watch and spread far and wide.

Bob Fiddaman

GSK Whistleblower Documents Released

Longtime friend and fellow activist, "The Truthman", is taking the bull by the horns on his excellent blog, GSK: Licence To Kill.

Today sees Truthman release just one of many documents pertaining to allegations made by Thomas Reilly who was sacked by GSK after bringing to their attention a staggering number of compliance issues. It seems to be a standard tactic for GSK to sack employees who bring compliance issues to their attention. Hamrick, Thorpe, Kumar are past whistleblowers of GSK who all met the same fate when making complaints to senior staff at GSK. In fact, I've yet to see anyone kept on by GSK who has made a complaint about their compliance procedures.

According to the documents, released via Pacer earlier today, Reilly claims that GSK's entire global manufacturing business has been running on defective IT systems putting their products at high risk of contamination. These products may include, but are not limited to, over-the-counter cold & flu remedies, sports drinks, dietary supplements, tubes of toothpaste. Also, prescription drugs manufactured by GSK, including their antidepressants Seroxat (Paxil) and Wellbutrin (bupropion). Many other products manufactured by GSK could also be at risk of contamination. For a breakdown of GSK products, visit here (last updated in 2013)

It's basically CIDRA on a global scale!

I'm not up to scratch with Reilly's allegations so here's Truthman to explain what has been alleged.

The Most Scandalous Case In Pharma: GSK’s Manufacturing Cover Up Puts Millions At Risk Of Harm.


Bob Fiddaman