Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So we cannot deny Simon Wessely his perception that the PACE trial is a thing of beauty. Capybaras are a thing of beauty ... to me.
His more recent assertion that it is an "excellent trial" can be questioned and indeed has been, notably not by any academics or researchers in Britain, but by many world wide.
Professor Winston agrees it is an excellent trial, pledging his ongoing belief in PACE and in his buddy Sir Wessely.
Both men, eminently respected within the medical profession, have had the ability to (re)classify ME as a psychiatric disorder while the World Health Organisation has it clearly classified as a neurological disorder. Do they have the authority to do that without going through the WHO classification procedures? It seems that celebrity and slaps on the back from the medical establishment allow them to do this. Leaving the WHO discredited.
All of us are called to be accountable for what we do in our work, including White and his PACE colleagues; a huge part of our own accountability is self reflection. PACE researchers and supporters may succeed in justifying their harmful work and words to other researchers, academics and to patients but can they truly look inwardly and justify it to themselves.
There! I've come out of hibernation for long enough to say what I have to say.
Photo taken at a wonderful animal sanctuary in Kirkcudbright. Well worth a visit.
http://gallowaywildlife.org.uk
