Post by Teddy Bear on Sept 2, 2011 20:50:57 GMT
The key to understanding what is going on with the BBC here is this:
Dr Ian Roberts, head of the World Health Organisation's injury control centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "The storyline in Holby City was nothing more than drug company propaganda.
"The manufacturer of Factor VIIa has spent a lot of money peddling this dangerous myth and it is a shame that the BBC is now helping for free."
Dr Ian Roberts, head of the World Health Organisation's injury control centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "The storyline in Holby City was nothing more than drug company propaganda.
"The manufacturer of Factor VIIa has spent a lot of money peddling this dangerous myth and it is a shame that the BBC is now helping for free."
BBC accused of propaganda over Holby City storyline
Doctors have accused the BBC of peddling "propaganda" for a medical firm after a Holby City storyline featured a patient's life apparently being saved by experimental use of a haemophilia drug.
By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent
5:40PM BST 02 Sep 2011
In an episode of the hospital drama screened on Tuesday army medics used Factor VIIa, a haemophilia drug, to control the bleeding of a young female soldier who had been shot in combat.
The character is later seen in hospital suffering from a serious clot in a blood vessel, suspected to be a side-effect of the drug, but announces she will not seek damages from the medics who administeres it because she believes it saved her life.
Trauma experts accused the BBC of "peddling dangerous drugs" and misrepresenting scientific evidence, claiming there was no evidence Factor VIIa could save the lives of trauma patients.
The drug is licensed for haemophilia treatment, but trials determined that using it to control bleeding in patients who do not suffer from the disease was unsafe and one test even linked it to higher death rates.
Dr Ian Roberts, head of the World Health Organisation's injury control centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "The storyline in Holby City was nothing more than drug company propaganda.
"The manufacturer of Factor VIIa has spent a lot of money peddling this dangerous myth and it is a shame that the BBC is now helping for free."
Mike Rulis, corporate vice president of Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the drug, said: "We have not had any involvement in the production of this programme and we certainly do not approve any use of Factor VIIa outside its intended application for certain haemophilia patients."
Dr Roberts has written to Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General asking that scripts be more carefully and responsibly written.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Holby City is a reflection of real life medical issues and drama. The storyline, which was written in consultation with medical advisors and the Ministry of Defence, referenced the drug in the context of its use in certain trauma cases in operational injuries.
"It was the character’s belief that the drug saved her life and she says this in order to stop her father from pursuing legal action. The drug is not given any undue prominence in the show and it is even acknowledged in the storyline that there is a debate around its use."
Doctors have accused the BBC of peddling "propaganda" for a medical firm after a Holby City storyline featured a patient's life apparently being saved by experimental use of a haemophilia drug.
By Nick Collins, Science Correspondent
5:40PM BST 02 Sep 2011
In an episode of the hospital drama screened on Tuesday army medics used Factor VIIa, a haemophilia drug, to control the bleeding of a young female soldier who had been shot in combat.
The character is later seen in hospital suffering from a serious clot in a blood vessel, suspected to be a side-effect of the drug, but announces she will not seek damages from the medics who administeres it because she believes it saved her life.
Trauma experts accused the BBC of "peddling dangerous drugs" and misrepresenting scientific evidence, claiming there was no evidence Factor VIIa could save the lives of trauma patients.
The drug is licensed for haemophilia treatment, but trials determined that using it to control bleeding in patients who do not suffer from the disease was unsafe and one test even linked it to higher death rates.
Dr Ian Roberts, head of the World Health Organisation's injury control centre at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: "The storyline in Holby City was nothing more than drug company propaganda.
"The manufacturer of Factor VIIa has spent a lot of money peddling this dangerous myth and it is a shame that the BBC is now helping for free."
Mike Rulis, corporate vice president of Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the drug, said: "We have not had any involvement in the production of this programme and we certainly do not approve any use of Factor VIIa outside its intended application for certain haemophilia patients."
Dr Roberts has written to Mark Thompson, BBC Director-General asking that scripts be more carefully and responsibly written.
A BBC spokesperson said: "Holby City is a reflection of real life medical issues and drama. The storyline, which was written in consultation with medical advisors and the Ministry of Defence, referenced the drug in the context of its use in certain trauma cases in operational injuries.
"It was the character’s belief that the drug saved her life and she says this in order to stop her father from pursuing legal action. The drug is not given any undue prominence in the show and it is even acknowledged in the storyline that there is a debate around its use."