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Ten commandments for the rational use of vaccines. November 2015

1 Nov

Vaccines are a treasure that is not defended and it is improved by simply repeating that mantra. The vaccine treasure requires good use and a continuous critical evaluation, in relation to developing and maintaining the vaccination schedules. Vaccination policies have been very poor in the recent decades, in the scientific, professional and political areas. This [...]

“Dr Cholesterol” against the “British Medical Journal”. Do not measure your cholesterol, be happy

26 May

The British Medical Journal has had problems with two papers about primary prevention of coronary artery disease (heart disease). Both papers have data that demonstrate statins have no use in primary prevention for most patients. The British Medical Journal problems relate to power, money and censorship. In this text a teacher explain the situation to [...]

Organization of Spanish Consumers against “medicalization of daily life”

8 May

Last 25th March, OCU joined and signed “Action on Selling Sickness” during a public action in a press conference. The Organization of Spanish Consumers is a private and independent one. OCU has translated into Spanish the document, and have started a campaign againts “medicalization of daily life” http://www.ocu.org/salud/medicamentos/informe/demasiados-medicamentos/stampa Notice the Spanish impact in the call [...]

Sacred secrets broken. Threats to the confidentiality of medical records. The case of Osabide, the centralized data base of Osakidetza (Basque Health Service) in Spain

25 Mar

The Basque Health Service, Osakidetza, established in 2003 a centralized data base, Osabide, with two millions medical records in full without asking permission or even notifying patients or the public (in some cases against the written opposition of a few patients who knew about the initiative). Two general practitioners who rejected Osabide and prepared a [...]

Health and politics: a not so innocent relationship

15 Oct

Democracy is associated with a better level of health, but not all democratic policies bring about the same health results, or the same alternatives as regards the organisation of services. In Spain there in an association between right-wing governments and less interest in primary health care. Health and politics: a not so innocent relationship. Gérvas [...]

Coercion is not justified in influenza vaccination

30 May

There are some countries (as Canada and the US) where mandatory influenza vaccine for health workers is a question in debate. There is good intention (to decrease influenza transmission) but has no scientific base, and has adverse effects in public health, as we consider in this paper. Coercion is not justified in influenza vaccination. Gérvas [...]

BRCA test, only for females of high familiar risk

22 May

BRCA genes are “normal” genes we all share in our cells. Some mutations of BRCA genes are associated with a higher incidence of breast and ovarian cancer. In this summary there is a few numbers to understand the problem. BRCA test, only for females of high familiar risk. Gérvas J. Madrid, 21st May 2013. Download [...]