I recently posted the following thread on Twitter: I am so disappointed by the large number of pre-pandemic medical skeptics who have now turned into…
New Guidelines for Endpoints in Valve Intervention Trials: is it an autocracy?
“History has time and again shown that unlimited power in the hands of one person or group in most cases means that others are suppressed…
Athletes’ hearts after COVID: the entity that wasn’t
2020 was a year of relatively uninformative studies about the effects of COVID on the heart as I have previously lamented. 2021 has proved more…
“Breakthrough” devices – to fast-track or not to fast-track
In the US, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approves new medical devices. The CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) decides whether to cover…
Why social media speech is not free
Many people are now noticing the harmful effects social media can have. These may range from social isolation, anxiety, depression and distortion of body image,…
A Schooling in Side Effects
The other day, I had the pleasure of being corrected by ever-impressive Milton Packer and I feel obliged to share his teachings with you. The…
Cardiologist Quits ACC Over Financial Support for Far Right Politicians
On January 6, 2021, an angry mob of domestic terrorists stormed the United States capital with the intent to stop the certification of the electoral…
Should the ACC Have a Live Meeting?
The American College of Cardiology is planning to have some live participants at its annual scientific sessions meeting in May. The college said it is also partnering with a technology company to offer these participants a wearable monitoring device “as an added safety measure for monitoring possible COVID-19 symptoms.”
In my view both decisions are mistaken and send messages that are the exact opposite of what responsible medical and scientific organizations should be promulgating during the pandemic.
The Defense of Science in the Age of Fake News
Fake news didn’t just become a problem because of Trump, or the pandemic. It’s been around for a long while. The problem can’t begin to be solved unless the medical and scientific community accepts that it has an absolute responsibility to aggressively debunk fake news and defend and support scientific principles.
CVCT Forum 2020 Teaser: Patient Engagement is More Than a Catchphrase
We have been increasingly hearing about the need to include patient representatives in our clinical trials. “Patient engagement” has become the buzz word of the…