Bully beef
I think it is unrealistic and undesirable at this point that the WPI have any medical media rep outside of the US. There are different politics going on in different places and they could never keep up, and you don't want to end up with some crackpot coming out with crazy statements on behalf of the WPI.
It makes sense for them to focus on the US media as that is where they will get most publicity anyway, and it is possible that Dr. Donnica will occassionally be interviewed via video link in other countries (hopefully that won't have her running for the hills if she sees this!). From our (European) point of view, what the WPI will be doing for us, is research and then it is up to us to use this research as it comes out.
Is there any evidence that Chris Steele is any good on ME? Just had a quick look, and this this page isn't bad I would not be happy with this sentence:
"Rest and adequate sleep is essential in the treatment of this disease, with a recovery programme involving gradually increasing amounts of daily exertion. At present, there is no 'cure' for ME, and many patients can take a long time to recover."
http://health.virginmedia.com/post-viral-fatigue-syndrome.htm
He may be sympathetic and not hardline wessely-school, but this doesn't mean he has anything other than a cursory knowledge of ME. Edit: He has done some sympathetic coveage of ME but I am not convinced he would have the knowledge to be a spokesperson, and there is every chance he would know this himself. Also with his job it would be a potential conflict of interest so he probably wouldn't be able to do it.
I think it is important not to look to celebreties too much, especially if they don't have some family connection (as Dr. Donnica has). Even good doctors can come out with some awful rubbish unless they have it themseles or a close family member has it. Also most doctors knowledge base is normally so low in terms of research (unlike people directly involved in charities, for example) that they wouldn't know how to argue a case with some sneaky but sharpe Wessely school person.
And the celebrity thing has been a bit of a fiasco in the UK (Barbara Windsor, Esther Ranson, the canoeist etc.) so I always feel slightly alarmed when people try to go down that route,
Orla
I think it is unrealistic and undesirable at this point that the WPI have any medical media rep outside of the US. There are different politics going on in different places and they could never keep up, and you don't want to end up with some crackpot coming out with crazy statements on behalf of the WPI.
It makes sense for them to focus on the US media as that is where they will get most publicity anyway, and it is possible that Dr. Donnica will occassionally be interviewed via video link in other countries (hopefully that won't have her running for the hills if she sees this!). From our (European) point of view, what the WPI will be doing for us, is research and then it is up to us to use this research as it comes out.
Is there any evidence that Chris Steele is any good on ME? Just had a quick look, and this this page isn't bad I would not be happy with this sentence:
"Rest and adequate sleep is essential in the treatment of this disease, with a recovery programme involving gradually increasing amounts of daily exertion. At present, there is no 'cure' for ME, and many patients can take a long time to recover."
http://health.virginmedia.com/post-viral-fatigue-syndrome.htm
He may be sympathetic and not hardline wessely-school, but this doesn't mean he has anything other than a cursory knowledge of ME. Edit: He has done some sympathetic coveage of ME but I am not convinced he would have the knowledge to be a spokesperson, and there is every chance he would know this himself. Also with his job it would be a potential conflict of interest so he probably wouldn't be able to do it.
I think it is important not to look to celebreties too much, especially if they don't have some family connection (as Dr. Donnica has). Even good doctors can come out with some awful rubbish unless they have it themseles or a close family member has it. Also most doctors knowledge base is normally so low in terms of research (unlike people directly involved in charities, for example) that they wouldn't know how to argue a case with some sneaky but sharpe Wessely school person.
And the celebrity thing has been a bit of a fiasco in the UK (Barbara Windsor, Esther Ranson, the canoeist etc.) so I always feel slightly alarmed when people try to go down that route,
Orla