"Once Again, Lancet Stumbles on PACE" (Aug 29) by Vincent Racaniello

[Chrisb]

The behaviour of Horton does appear to be puzzling and the explanations so eloquently mooted here might be correct.

However, to play devil's advocate, might the behaviour not also be consistent with another explanation?

Having solicited a letter from the researchers, it could be that he was unable to implement the stated terms, his editorial decisions being vetoed by higher authority, upon representations being made by interested parties. Proprietorial control is not unheard of in such circumstances. It does not take much of a threat to advertising revenues to concentrate the proprietorial mind.

It could be that Horton's failure to sign the letter finally issued by the correspondence editor is the only means available to him of showing that he does not concur with the decision- contractual terms preventing any more florid response. Admittedly one would expect a resignation in such circumstances, but not all can afford the principled resignation.

Just a thought. To muddy the water. Whatever the truth, it doesn't say much for the Lancet.

 

[SilverbladeTE]

Give a scumbag enough rope and eventually, his own greed, ego will hang himself
This pretty much proves that point

Alas during that time, they will also harm many innocent folk before they cause their own downfall

 

[Michelle]

Apparently Horton's first act after the Sunday Times made him aware of the serious problems with Andrew Wakefield's autism paper was to contact Wakefield and try to find a way to kill the Times' story. You can read an account here:

http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7001

My favorite part of that piece is where, during the GMC inquiry, Horton is asked:

"...have there been other occasions when you have had to investigate allegations made about a research paper and its propriety, in general terms?”

“Frequently.”

“Is it customary to discuss and take the word of those against whom the allegations are made?”

“It is.”

I think that really says everything. Horton takes the word of authors over Science. Every bloody time.

 

[Yogi]

Additional signatories to the 10 February 2016 letter

Patrick E. McKnight, PhD
Professor of Psychology
George Mason University
Fairfax, Virginia


William Satariano, PhD
Professor of Epidemiology and Community Health
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California


Paul T Seed MSc CStat CSci
Senior Lecturer in Medical Statistics
King’s College London, Division of Women’s Health
St Thomas’ Hospital
London, England, United Kingdom

Mark Vink, MD
Family Physician
Soerabaja Research Center
Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Prof Dr FC Visser
Cardiologist
Stichting CardioZorg
Hoofddorp, The Netherlands


John Whiting, MD
Specialist Physician
Private Practice
Brisbane, Australia


However 5 names are no longer there from last time. Any idea or anyone in contact with Vincent to ask if they have been forgotten to be included.

Paul Seed is from King's College London (Wessely's place)

http://www.meaction.net/2015/12/12/...-james-coynes-request-for-plos-one-pace-data/

Paul Seedsays:
December 23, 2015 at 8:04 am
I am a medical researcher at KCL. I have always supported full data sharing, and have done a bit of it myself. This is a normal and increasingly common part of research.

PACE has two particular problems: a controversial decision to change the primary endpoint, replacing a minor, but useful improvement in symptoms with something even less impressive, and an editorial that talked about “cure”, even though the word appeared nowhere in the article.

Paul Seedsays:
December 23, 2015 at 9:10 am
The initial decision not to share the data would have been taken by the trial’s Chief Investigator, usually the first author on the main paper; probably supported by the chair of the Steering Committee. They will be specialists in CFS and CBT. But the trial is guaranteed by KCL, whose brief is much wider, and with a considerable reputation for excellent research to protect. They will want PLOS Medicine to think well of them.

 

[worldbackwards]

The behaviour of Horton (and others) increasingly reminds me of William H Macy's character in Fargo, as all of his schemes keep unravelling one by one.

"Ma'am, I answered your question!"