Emory Psychiatrist in conflict of interests - Douglas Bremner approached directly & funded by Roaccutane litigant Liam Grant

Doug Bremner:


" In 1997, Liam Grant’s son, an Irish student, hanged himself. Grant filed a lawsuit in Ireland against Roche, which makes Accutane, charging that the drug led to the suicide. He also started a foundation to support research. There have been several other cases in which the drug was associated with suicide. Around the time of Grant’s suicide, France issued a warning to that effect, before the U.S. warning came out. Grant [senior] contacted me and asked if I could do some research. I said I would need money for the brain scans, and he agreed to fund them; he also funded a rat study done elsewhere. Both studies showed that Accutane affected the limbic area of the brain, which affects emotion. Accutane inhibits nerve growth in the hippocampus, which in animal models causes depression. It’s not a subtle thing. In 2000, the son of Congressman Bart Stupak, who was taking Accutane, shot himself and died. Stupak put pressure on the FDA, which concluded there was good evidence that the drug caused suicides. That’s why my study and the rat study were such big deals. In the Grant case, the defense counsel subpoenaed Emory to get my study data, and I’ve been named as an expert witness in most of the lawsuits that are going on. We’re doing additional studies, and the manufacturer is trying to subpoena those records even before they’re done. They’ve already deposed me to try and find out what I’m doing, but I refused to tell them. It’s now up to a judge to say whether he wants to compel me to reveal that information. ....."



http://www.emory.edu/ACAD_EXCHANGE/2007/febmar/bremnerqa.html
 
 
AE: Has Roche charged you with bias because your work is sponsored by the plaintiff?




DB: Drug companies are really good at propaganda and spin control. They’ll throw up balloons that are distracting and give you a piece of the information. In Ireland, there are relatively low limits on product liability awards, so Liam Grant’s not doing this for financial gain. I don’t communicate with Grant anymore, because every time I do the emails get subpoenaed. I’ve never even met him. His donation was given as an unrestricted grant to Emory, and my time was never compensated. The day after my study came out, Roche attempted to settle with him and offered to pay all legal costs and for the research he’d paid for, which totaled several million dollars. He refused. Roche’s line has been that there’s no association between Accutane and depression, and that depression is really common in teenagers. Most of these cases involve teenagers. The fact is that teens have one of the lowest suicide rates, so that’s another piece of propaganda they’ve effectively spun, and it’s just not true. Another line is that Accutane can’t enter the brain because it’s a skin medication. It does go into the brain. In fact it exists naturally in the body. We make Accutane, which has the same chemical structure as the active form of vitamin A, which has all sorts of functions in the brain.

Dr Doug Bremner - FIDDAMAN mate - BOUGHT by class action lawyers & Roaccutane Action Group

Paper - Functional Brain Imaging Alterations in Acne Patients Treated With Isotretinoin

J. Douglas Bremner, M.D., Negar Fani, M.S., Ali Ashraf, M.D., John R. Votaw, Ph.D., Marijn E. Brummer, Ph.D., Thomas Cummins, M.D., Viola Vaccarino, M.D., Ph.D., Mark M. Goodman, Ph.D., Lai Reed, M.B.A., Sajid Siddiq, M.D., and Charles B. Nemeroff, M.D., Ph.D.


extract from Footnote -

source - http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/162/5/983


Emission Tomography, Emory University School of Medicine; and the Psychiatry Service, Atlanta Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Ga. Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Bremner, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, 1256 Briarcliff Rd., Atlanta, GA 30306; jdbremn@emory.edu (e-mail). Supported by funding from Liam Grant, director of the Roaccutane Action Group (80%), and by lawyers involved in Accutane litigation (20%). The authors thank Delicia Votaw, C.N.M.T., Michael White, C.N.M.T., Margie Jones, C.N.M.T., Kim Egeler, C.N.M.T., Ron Crowe, Pharm.D., and Shane Waldrep, B.S., for assistance in positron emission tomography imaging.




paper in full here -

DeLorean DMC-12 is going back to the future fully-electric powertrain

The DeLorean DMC-12 is going back to the future with a fully-electric powertrain.




The original DeLorean DMC-12 began production in 1986 but didn’t quite live up to expectations thanks to lacklustre performance from its 148bhp V6 engine. This new version, though, is aiming to change all that with a 200bhp electric motor that should be good enough for a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds.





It’s built by the Texas-based DeLorean Motor Company and should be on the road by 2013. It was first displayed publicly at the international DeLorean Owners Event in Houston, Texas, featuring a new interior with an iPhone dock and bespoke steering wheel.



The company revealed that the batteries add around 90kgs to the already hefty kerbweight and they’ve been positioned to give the car a 35/65 weight-distribution.





This new fully-electric DMC-12 is made up of around 80 per cent original parts but the suspension has been up-rated for improved performance.



As yet there is no official price-tag for the DMC-12 but expect further details nearer the release date.





Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/274201/electric_delorean_dmc12.html#ixzz1bXx4T2dT

Male breast cancer - BBC

Men have breast tissue just like women, although in smaller proportions, and like women can develop all types of breast disease including breast cancer, although it's rare, affecting only 300 men each year in the UK, compared to over 45,000 women.









Male breast cancer risk factors

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/physical_health/conditions/male_breast_cancer.shtml



The biggest risk factor for men, as it is for women, is increasing age. Most cases of male breast cancer are diagnosed in men of 60 to 70 year-olds or even older, although it can occur in men of any age. Other factors such as radiation exposure, especially when young, can also increase the risk for men and women.



Genes play a big part in male breast cancer, with ten to 20 per cent probably linked to inherited faulty genes (especially the BRAC2 gene) compared to around only three per cent of breast cancers in women. Also, men with a rare genetic condition called Klinefelter's syndrome are 20 to 50 times more likely to get breast cancer than normal men.



Men with Klinefelter's syndrome have an extra, female, X chromosome, making them XXY, and often have slightly more breast tissue than normal.



Another relevant factor is having high blood oestrogen levels. Most men do have a low natural level of oestrogen, which is not as high as in women, but if a man is overweight his fat tissue will manufacture excess oestrogen, raising his blood levels. Other diseases such as chronic liver disease can also cause high oestrogen levels.



Top

Male breast cancer symptoms

Men tend to notice the same sort of symptoms as women – a lump, pain, or bleeding or discharging nipple, but the commonest symptom in men is a painless lump. Men may also notice a general swelling of their previous minimal breast size or the nipple being pulled into the chest wall – 'retraction' or 'tethering' – or swollen glands in the armpit.



Top

Investigations and tests for male breast cancer

As for women, the tests for any breast symptoms, looking for any disease as well as cancer, include a mammogram – an x-ray of the breast tissue, or an ultrasound of the breast and armpit, and then a biopsy. This is a sample taken from the suspicious area and then examined under the microscope to look for cancer cells. Other tests may be done to look for secondary spread such as:



•Chest x-ray

•Liver ultrasound

•CT scan of liver and lungs

•Bone scans

Top

Treatment for male breast cancer

The most common type of breast cancer in men and women is a ductal carcinoma but other sorts do occur. Treatment of all breast cancers in men includes:



•Surgery

•Radiotherapy

•Chemotherapy

•Hormone therapy

•Biological therapy

In particular, hormone therapy such as tamoxifen is useful in men as around 90 per cent of male breast cancer cells are oestrogen receptor positive, which means they are oestrogen sensitive, needing oestrogen to grow. For men with this type of cancer cell, hormone therapies can be used to block oestrogen effects on any remaining cancer cells, preventing growth and reducing the chance of recurrence.



However hormone therapies such as tamoxifen can cause hot flushes and loss of sex drive. Newer hormone therapies including the aromatase inhibitors have been shown to be useful in preventing recurrence of breast cancer in post-menopausal women but it isn't clear yet how effective they are in breast cancer in men.



The biological therapies target HER2 receptors which are present in some types of breast cancer cell. So all breast cancer cells, in men and women, are examined for this receptor type and biological therapy used if they are positive.



Top

Male breast cancer support

Men can find the diagnosis of breast cancer very difficult, as they may feel isolated and unsupported, they may feel their masculinity threatened and find it difficult to discuss their diagnosis with friends or family. Local support from other male sufferers is available through Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research UK.

FIDDAMAN & CCHR Scientology FAIL as Antidepressant Use Up 400% in Past Decade - USA

A new report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics shows that over a 10-year period, the use of antidepressants has skyrocketed across the United States by a staggering 400 percent — as the numbers of those diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder (the clinical name for depression) and anxiety disorders has dramatically increased.




With the development of Prozac and similar drugs, more than one out of every 10 Americans over the age of 12 now takes an antidepressant, according to the findings. Researchers analyzed data collected from 12,637 people who participated in the center’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, which elicit information from about 5,000 Americans of all ages every year. Antidepressants were the third most common prescription drug taken by Americans of all ages in 2005–2008 and the most frequently used by persons aged 18–44 years. The nearly quadruple rate of antidepressant use was from 1988–1994 through 2005–2008.



read on - http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/health-care/9467-cdc-antidepressant-use-up-400-in-past-decade

Addleshaw Goddard major interest in Hugh James SEROXAT liars - FIDDAMAN Venn Djanogly

Addleshaw Goddard (178.250.99.196) [Label IP Address]  returning visit


London, United Kingdom



(No referring link)

21 Oct 18:58:34 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/10/vera-lynn-sailing.html

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21 Oct 18:58:44 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/10/vera-lynn-sailing.html

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21 Oct 18:58:49 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/10/heavy-metal-music-has-negative.html

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21 Oct 18:59:05 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/10/bent-seroxatusergroup-mp​-failed​-to.html

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21 Oct 18:59:54

www.google.com — seroxat litigation #3

21 Oct 18:59:58 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/10/bent-seroxatusergroup-mp​-failed​-to.html

21 Oct 19:00:07 www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/17/jonathan-djanogly​-stripped​-power​-ambulance​-chasers?newsfeed​=true (Exit Link)

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21 Oct 19:01:04 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/09/so-many-seroxat-litigation​-liars​-better.html

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21 Oct 19:01:04 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/10/judge-dismisses-murderers​-lawsuit.html

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21 Oct 19:01:30

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21 Oct 19:01:32 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/09/so-many-seroxat-litigation​-liars​-better.html

21 Oct 19:02:40 www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/cms/150_14671.htm (Exit Link)

www.google.com — seroxat litigation #1

21 Oct 19:02:46 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/09/so-many-seroxat-litigation​-liars​-better.html

www.google.com — seroxat litigation #1

21 Oct 19:05:01 bobfiddaman.blogspot.com/2011/09/so-many-seroxat-litigation​-liars​-better.html

FIDDAMAN - False Victimization Syndrome:

This occurs when an individual attempts to convince others that he or she is being stalked through the invention of claims made to re-establish a failing relationship and/or gain attention (Zona, Palarea, and Lane, 1998).


http://www.stalkingbehavior.com/definiti.htm

Individuals who exhibit these characteristics may also fit the criteria for histrionic personality disorder (DSM-IV, 1994): demanding to be the center of attention, shallow expression of emotions which shift rapidly, and speaks in a manner that is overly impressionistic and lacking in detail.

* This is not to be confused with situations where a stalker claims to be a victim of stalking. Oddly, sometimes a stalker will feel victimized by the person he or she is stalking. This is referred to as projective identification. In other words, the stalker's rage at being rejected (and other unconsciously disowned stalking-related attributes) is "projected" or "put" into the true victim, so that the true victim is now perceived by the stalker to have this rage (attributes/behaviors) and directing it back, hence stalking the stalker.

* A notable problem with the False Victimization Syndrome (FVS) is that it wastes valuable resources. More importantly, FVS is rare and the few cases that do occur should not undermine the reporting and investigation of legitimate stalking cases.

* A conceptual model that categorizes false allegations was developed by Mohandie, Hatcher, and Raymond (1998). Three types of false victimization syndromes are delineated.

1. a. Hysterical paralysis: An example of this would be converting a psychological distress into physiological problems. There are often secondary gains to having a paralyzed limb, such as not having to participate in a stressful or frightening event.

b. Munchausen: An individual intentionally creates or feigns physical or psychological symptoms in order to assume the sick role.

c. Munchausen by proxy: The intentionally produced or feigned physical or psychological symptoms in another person, such as a child, under one's care and indirectly assuming the sick role.

2. Known perpetrator:

a. Single event

b. Multiple event (stalking):

3. Unknown perpetrator:

a. Single event:

b. Multiple event (stalking)

The last two categories are similar, save the obvious difference that one involves claiming to have known the perpetrator and the other involves stating that the perpetrator is unknown. Also, these last two types entail more complex motivations and sophistication of procedures by the false victim than the other types (1a, 1b, and 1c).

The characteristics that classify FVS type 2 and 3 similarly are

* multiple situations over time when the victim has been alone with no witnesses and is approached by the suspect;

* major incidents begin as noncriminal contact, but then advance quickly to criminal contact;

* the victim reports these criminal contacts based on what has been learned from the media or someone known to the false victim who has reported these occurrences;

* and claiming to have received injuries, letters, phone calls, threats, followed, or chased.

Given the fact that authorities will be assessing the veracity of stalking victims' claims, having a written documentation of events, saved evidence, and available witnesses makes gaining support and assistance less problematic. For an example on how to document stalking events, see the Logbook.

SCIENTOLOGY filth - Exclusive FIDDAMAN blog video of Saint Hill East Grinstead

Heavy metal music has negative psychiatric impacts on youth - FIDDAMAN should stick to Vera Lynn

Heavy metal music has negative impacts on youth


October 20th, 2011 in Health



Young people at risk of depression are more likely to listen habitually and repetitively to heavy metal music. University of Melbourne researcher Dr Katrina McFerran has found.



Young people at risk of depression are more likely to listen habitually and repetitively to heavy metal music. University of Melbourne researcher Dr Katrina McFerran has found.



A senior lecturer in Music Therapy at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, Dr McFerran is immersed in a new study that aims to find out why some young people use heavy metal music in a negative way.



By conducting in-depth interviews with 50 young people aged between 13 and 18, along with a national survey of 1000 young people, Dr McFerran is looking to develop an early intervention model that can be integrated into schools to impact positively before behavioral problems occur.



“The mp3 revolution means that young people are accessing music more than ever before and it’s not uncommon for some to listen to music for seven or eight hours a day,” she said.



“Most young people listen to a range of music in positive ways; to block out crowds, to lift their mood or to give them energy when exercising, but young people at risk of depression are more likely to be listening to music, particularly heavy metal music, in a negative way.



“Examples of this are when someone listens to the same song or album of heavy metal music over and over again and doesn’t listen to anything else. They do this to isolate themselves or escape from reality.



“If this behavior continues over a period of time then it might indicate that this young person is suffering from depression or anxiety, and at worst, might suggest suicidal tendencies.”



Dr McFerran said parents should be aware of their children’s music listening habits, pick up on early warning signs and take early action.



“If parents are worried, they should ask their children questions like – how does that music make you feel? If children say the music reflects or mirrors the way they feel then ask more about what the music is saying,” she said.



“If listening doesn’t make them feel good about themselves, this should ring alarm bells. Alternatively, if parents notice a downturn in their child’s mood after listening to music this is also a cause for showing interest and getting involved.”



As part of her study Dr McFerran is seeking input from young people, particularly those who suffer from depression and anxiety to better understand the affects of heavy metal. She is also interested in hearing from parents along with their teenagers.



Provided by University of Melbourne





"Heavy metal music has negative impacts on youth." October 20th, 2011. http://medicalxpress.com/news/2011-10-heavy-metal-music-negative-impacts.html

Vera Lynn - Sailing

late middle aged FIDDAMAN can enjoy Forces ' sweetheart at SCIENTOLOGY East Grinstead base

As the band struck up that old wartime classic, The White Cliffs Of Dover, there in the spotlight was the woman who has been the Forces' sweetheart since she first sang it for homesick servicemen during World War II, Dame Vera Lynn.


But this nostalgic performance was not at a Services reunion but a charity concert in the Sussex headquarters of the controversial Church of Scientology.

So had Dame Vera become, at the age of 94, the latest high-profile figure to join the church that was denounced by a High Court judge as 'obnoxious, corrupt, sinister and dangerous'?

Innocent invitation: Dame Vera Lynn (pictured) is not interested in Scientology, according to her daughter

The answer is a resounding 'no'. Says Dame Vera's shocked daughter, Virginia: 'My mother does not agree with Scientology. She is Church of England. She wouldn't want to have anything to do with them.'



So what on earth was she doing there? In fact, it was an innocent invitation from a family friend to attend a concert for the air ambulance service.





Dame Vera, who lives not far from the church's East Grinstead base, was among 2,000 people at the event, hosted by actress (and Scientologist) Kirstie Alley. Church members include Tom Cruise and John Travolta.

Says a non-Scientologist guest at the concert: 'The audience was mostly Scientologists. But there were quite a few local councillors and I was very surprised to see Dame Vera there. I assumed, like me, she's not a supporter.'

Scientology HQ: Dame Vera was a guest at an event held at Saint Hill, East Grinstead

Shocked: Dame Vera with her daughter Virginia Lewis, when she was 20

The event was advertised as the Saint Hill Gala Charity Concert but the fact that Saint Hill is a Scientology HQ was not on the invitation.



Dame Vera posed for photos with doctors who were presented with two fast-response vehicles worth £54,000 by the church.



Entertainment agent Susan Fleet, who invited Dame Vera, tells me: 'I am certain Dame Vera was not aware it was a Scientology event. I invited her only because of the air ambulance charity which does such a fantastic job. I am not a Scientologist.

'And I jolly well hope I haven't been naive about this.



'I wouldn't have dreamed of inviting her if I thought it would compromise her reputation in any way.'





Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2051587/Dame-Veras-surprising-engagement.html#ixzz1bOyhKxxi

Dear Dr FIDDAMAN - PMS is a valid murder defence - unlike Seroxat / Paxil

If only Bob had a sense of humour, he would realise the parody account was there to help him  ....ROFL


http://www.springerlink.com/content/e23v14666ug54855/

SARAH VENN Barrister - one who put user in seroxatUSERgroup - Paxil Seroxat Gsk Fiddaman

CIPRAMIL Lundbeck - Health Canada reviewing antidepressant Celexa can affect the electrical activity of the heart.

TORONTO — Health Canada says it is reviewing the antidepressant citalopram after a new study suggested high doses -- 60 milligrams a day -- can affect the electrical activity of the heart.


http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20111014/antidepressant-celexa-111014/20111014/?hub=TorontoNewHome

Health Canada says the changes in electrical activity could potentially lead to serious and possibly fatal abnormal heart rhythms.



The drug regulator says patients using the drug should not stop taking it and should not alter their dose on their own.



It suggests patients can talk with their health-care provider if they are concerned and should notify their doctors if they feel any side-effects such as dizziness, difficulty concentrating, feelings of anxiety, nausea or vomiting.



Health Canada says people taking the drug should seek immediate care if they experience an abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting.



The drug is sold by a number of brand names, including Celexa; it is in the family of drugs called selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs.



The current recommended dose in Canada is 20 milligrams a day for adults, though people who don't respond to that dose are sometimes prescribed doses of 40 and even 60 mgs a day.



People with heart conditions or a history of low levels of magnesium or potassium in the blood may be at higher risk of developing an abnormal heart rhythm while taking citalopram.

FIDDAMAN - Fidcast Statistics - Leonie Fennell - youtube proves fiddaman advocate useless

source - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBhZamf9mfI

bent SeroxatUserGroup MP failed to declare family interest in claims management companies - Fiddaman counterpoint blog

Justice minister stripped of powers

Ken Clarke to take charge after Djanogly failed to declare family interest in claims management companies




http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/17/jonathan-djanogly-stripped-power-ambulance-chasers?newsfeed=true



reddit this Randeep Ramesh, social affairs editor guardian.co.uk, Monday 17 October 2011 21.42 BST Article history

Jonathan Djanogly's children were shareholders in his brother-in-law's claims management companies – part of an industry the justice minister regulated in government. Photograph: Rex Features

The justice minister, Jonathan Djanogly, has been stripped of his responsibility to regulate firms that "ambulance chase" the public following a Guardian investigation that revealed how he and his family could profit from controversial changes to legal aid he was piloting in parliament.



Djanogly, the heir to a £300m family business, had failed to declare that his teenage children were minority shareholders in his brother-in-law's businesses – two firms that advertise claims and are part of an industry that Djanogly regulated in government.



Claims management companies "ambulance chase" the sick, the sexually harassed and the sacked and put them in touch with no-win no-fee lawyers. The firms collect a payment known as a referral fee. In May the Legal Services Board, the independent body which advises minsters on legal regulation, had said the case for banning referral fees "had not been made out". Four months later – without any consultation or impact assessment – Djanogly announced a ban on referral fees in personal injury cases, but effectively excluded his brother-in-law's businesses, which deal with employment law.



Djanogly admitted last week that Sir Gus O'Donnell, the cabinet secretary, had launched an inquiry into the apparent conflict of interest. In a letter to Labour's justice spokesman, Andy Slaughter, who had raised the matter, O'Donnell said that while there is "no suggestion of any impropriety in relation" to Djanogly's brother-in-law's firms that "for the avoidance of doubt decisions about the regulation of individual (claims management companies) should henceforth be handled by another minister".



O'Donnell said that Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, would now be in charge of the industry, leaving Djanogly in charge of legal aid and civil litigation. This still means he will be able to identify growth areas for claims management companies.



[This update was added on 18 October 2011: The Ministry of Justice's view on the O'Donnell findings was expressed by a spokesman: "The cabinet secretary has concluded that Jonathan Djanogly took the appropriate steps to prevent any conflict between his financial interests and his ministerial duties. There is no evidence that he acted in any way other than in the public interest. Mr Djanogly retains ministerial responsibility for civil justice policy. He has requested that the Claims Management Regulation Unit be overseen by a different justice minister, to avoid any possible distraction from this important issue. The Ministry of Justice has agreed to this change."]



Djanogly's brother-in-law, Ben Silk, runs two firms Legal Link Introductory Services that trades as Justice Direct – and markets itself as the "leading claims management company in the UK".



The other is Going Legal, which claimed it has recovered £20 million for unfair dismissal claims since 1999. It is also known as "Sexual Harassment at Work", "Employment Tribunal Claims" and "Injury At Work Claims".



The two firms made a profit of £130,000 last year. After he was contacted by Silk, who had been alarmed by the Guardian's investigation, the minister sold his children's stake.



Last week the Guardian revealed that Djanogly has been forced to publicly declare in the parliamentary register that his controversialstakes in the insurance industry have been placed in a "blind trust" to insulate himself from the fact he could personally profit from legislation he is piloting in the Commons.



The minister registered his insurance industry investments in the trust seven days after the Guardian exposed how he potentially stood to gain from a bill he was pushing through the house.



Djanogly has at least £250,000 in shares in companies with insurance subsidiaries and is a member of his family's Lloyds underwriting partnership that deals in accident, health and motor claims. He has been entitled to a £41,000 a year from that partnership, known as the Djanogly Family LLP.



The minister is stewarding the legal aid, sentencing and punishment of offenders bill through the Commons. It proposes to slash the legal aid budget by £350m and shift part of the costs of bringing no-win, no-fee cases from losing defendants to winning claimants.



This would reduce the liabilities of companies and their insurers if they unsuccessfully defend a claim as it will force claimants to pay out of any awarded damages their lawyers' success fees and insurance policies that cover court costs.



The minister had attempted to insulate himself from charges that he was making investment decisions in the family underwriting business, which stakes millions in the insurance market, by "delegating sole management … to the managing agent" in 2010.



But this does not absolve the minister from statutory duties as a partner. A primary responsibilty of membership of the business is to safeguard the assets of the partnership. This effectively means that the minister could be sued if he was to advance a law that threatened the underwriting business.



O'Donnell accepts Djanogly's statement that "he has not – and has never had – any knowledge of or influence over investment decisions" and that he had "formalised" this arrangement in 2010.



Slaughter said that the minister had been "stripped of responsibilities". But he added: "There are serious questions over whether the conflicts of interests influenced the policy making process and there are further questions over the Djanogly Family LLP that need to be answered. I will be writing to Sir Gus O'Donnell shortly."



• This article was updated on 18 October 2011, to include a Ministry of Justice response to the cabinet secretary's finding in the case of the justice minister, Jonathan Djanogly

SEROXAT Exclusive - corrupt MP Djanogly stripped of power – but how far did justice minister’s influence go?

Djanogly stripped of power – but how far did justice minister’s influence go?


source - http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/justice-minister-jonathan-djanogly-stripped-of-power/


Share 18retweetFollowing revelations last week about conflicts of interest with the bill he had responsibility for, minister of justice Jonathan Djanogly has been stripped of his responsibility to regulate claims management companies: firms which collect a referral fee for putting victims in touch with lawyers, often known as “ambulance chasers”.



The Guardian reports:



In May the Legal Services Board, the independent body which advises minsters on legal regulation, had said the case for banning referral fees “had not been made out”.



Four months later - without any consultation or impact assessment - Djanogly announced a ban on referral fees in personal injury cases, but effectively excluded his brother-in-law’s businesses, which deal with employment law.



Djanogly admitted last week that Sir Gus O’Donnell, the cabinet secretary, had launched an inquiry into the apparent conflict of interest…



O’Donnell said that Ken Clarke, the justice secretary, would now be in charge of the industry, leaving Djanogly in charge of legal aid and civil litigation. This still means he will be able to identify growth areas for claims management companies.



The ministry of justice issued a statement about Djanogly’s dressing-down, claiming:



The cabinet secretary has concluded that Jonathan Djanogly took the appropriate steps to prevent any conflict between his financial interests and his ministerial duties. There is no evidence that he acted in any way other than in the public interest.



Mr Djanogly retains ministerial responsibility for civil justice policy. He has requested that the Claims Management Regulation Unit be overseen by a different justice minister, to avoid any possible distraction from this important issue. The Ministry of Justice has agreed to this change.



Shadow justice minister Andy Slaughter told Left Foot Forward:



“We welcome the minister being divested of his powers. However, questions remain as to how the policy process was influenced while he did have a conflict, and over confusing statements made in parliament last week. Thats why I’ve written to Gus O’Donnell today to get to the bottom of this.”



The ‘confusing statements’ Slaughter refers to were uncovered by this site:



When confronted about this fiduciary interest [to his family firm] by Tom Harris in the transport committee today, Djanogly’s answer was as revealing as it was curt:



“That’s my duty to the LLP, not to parliament.”



He apparently sees no problem in having a legal duty to a company in the very industry he is regulating.





As Jonny Mulligan, of the Sound Off for Justice campaign, told us:



“It is hard to see how this can be the end of the affair. To start with it is hard to believe the nonsense around having no financial interest because he has put things in a ‘blind trust’. This is duplicitous word play and makes no difference. In the long run he and his family, friends and brother in law all stand to benefit. They benefit more if the Jackson reforms come in to act.



“The next question that must be answered is why for the last year minister Djanogly, Ben Gummer MP and other front bench MPs have been trotting around promoting the perception of a compensation culture that does not exist. David Cameron himself has accepted Lord Youngs assessment that it is a perception ‘created by the media’. Why has the Djanogly been briefing parliament the complete opposite from what the prime minister?



“We need a full disclosure. Who are the puppets and who are the puppet masters? What we need to know is who has influenced the minister and his decision making over the Jackson reforms over the last 18 months. We know he has family interests and that the Association for british Insurers (ABI) have had a lot of meetings with him and his officials in the MOJ.”



Adding:



“Djanogly’s performance at the bill stage and in debate in Parliament really question his ability to get his head around the facts.



“The real question today must be asked how competent is the minister able to turn this disaster around. Does he actually understand the impact his bill will have. Will he take responsibility for the outcomes - or will the cost to the taxpayer be shoved in another ‘blind trust’?”



The cabinet office’s response cannot be the end of the matter. It is clearer than ever the minister did have a conflict of interest, large enough to render his position at the head of this regulation untenable. Despite being stripped of his powers, his pernicious effects on the last eighteen months of legislation will persist, as will his influence over the other aspects of the legal aid bill – aspects over which he is not free of conflicts either.



In addition, there remains a question of enforcement of the ministerial code: If, as we argued previously, Djanogly has indeed creating the perception of a conflict of interest, he has broken the ministerial code. That is not something which a simple apology, and a promise to be better in the future, can fix.



Our original conclusion stands:



This is a bill drafted by an insurer in the interest of the insurers. It is too tainted by his association to be allowed to pass in its current form, and it is clear that it must be drastically rewritten or scrapped altogether.



See also:



• Exposed: The legal aid minister’s £97,000 conflict of interest – Alex Hern, October 11th 2011



• Will Djanogly debunk the myth of a compensation culture? – Jonny Mulligan, October 11th 2011



• Outrage at government plans to fast track legal aid legislation – Jonny Mulligan, June 24th 2011



• Civil justice “reforms” mean corporate wrongdoers will be beyond the law – Andy Slaughter MP, June 16th 2011



• Two women a week die from domestic violence; legal aid cuts will see more – Jonny Mulligan, June 16th 2011

Matthew Schultz death might lead to greater care of expectant mom's taking antidepressants

After more than two years of pain and disappointment, there is some hope for a Merritt family fighting to raise awareness of the potential damage exposure to antidepressants can have on babies.



The Schultz family had asked Royal Inland Hospital to look at protocols in how it deals with newborns exposed to antidepressants. In September, a hospital committee met and started to bring forward recommendations.


RIH chief of staff David Sanden told KTW the hospital’s perinatal review committee has looked into the case of baby Matthew Schultz and deemed there is “value” in exploring further the issues raised by the family.


The review has been forwarded to RIH’s quality committee, another group that can continue to study the issue.

Matthew died at RIH on Feb. 21, 2009, only two hours into his life.


The Schultzes are convinced the cause of death can be linked to an antidepressant drug called Effexor, also known by its clinical name venlafaxine, prescribed to mom Christiane during her pregnancy.


Sanden said the perinatal committee focused on two issues that relate to babies and mothers.


More specifically, it has been recommended physicians have a heightened awareness of expectant mothers who are on antidepressants and, if possible, recommend moms stop taking the drugs prior to delivery.


Sanden said the committee has also suggested a general awareness that children born to mothers taking antidepressants require a closer watch after birth.


He noted there has already been what he called a “soft implementation” of the recommendations at Royal Inland.


The Schultz case will also be passed on to Catherine Cronin, the Interior Health Authority’s new medical director perinatal and child health network, for further review.


The family is expected to meet with the medical director sometime in the near future.


However, there is no timeline for when a formal policy or formal protocols will be implemented, as the recommendations still need to be passed on to several larger committees at the hospital and health authority.

But, Sanden is thankful the Schultz family has raised the issue within the hospital.


“I think it’s important. In many ways, I’m grateful they brought it forward,” he said. “I think it’s been a good thing.”


Word that Matthew’s case has started to spur change at RIH was greeted as good news by the Schultzes.


“We’re ecstatic it’s moving forward at least on one front,” said Amery Schultz, father.

The family was hoping the BC Coroners Service would order an inquest into the death of their son, but was disappointed when the agency declined.


The Schultzes are also looking for the government to acknowledge there could be a problem with pregnant women taking antidepressants and to implement protocols to monitor babies exposed to the prescription drugs, as is done for illegal drugs.


Schultz said he’s not sure the protocols — which are now being considered at RIH — had they been in place at the time of Matthew’s death, would have saved his son, but he said it might have given him a chance.

“If they are going to be exposed to this stuff [antidepressants], let’s give them a fighting chance at birth,” he said.

According to the original coroner’s report, a detailed autopsy on Matthew showed no anatomic cause of death, but the possibility was raised of venlafaxine exposure being a contributing factor.


Brain-tissue samples were sent to a research facility in the U.S. for examination to determine if there was an underlying susceptibility to the class of antidepressants.


But, the report noted, it was unclear how prenatal exposure to Effexor might have contributed to Matthew’s death, if at all.

The report concluded the significance of the exposure to venlafaxine in utero is unknown and made no recommendations.


Unbeknownst to the couple, venlafaxine had been under a Health Canada warning since 2004.


The government agency had advised that newborns may be adversely affected when pregnant women take a specific group of antidepressants during the third trimester of pregnancy.


The list included venlafaxine.



http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/132021078.html

FIDDAMAN Exclusive - his CCHR boss Jan Eastgate has a cool face lift

Jan as she used to be

perhaps she'll drop the body next ?

FIDDAMAN masters CCHR bribe Sussex police over Brighton psychiatry convention protest

Members of the public have plied police with gifts of beer and doughnuts to show their gratitude, force files have revealed.


http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/9308325.Police_officers_given_doughnuts_and_beer_as_thank_you_presents/


The Scientologists gave one officer a basket of fruit while a PC was given a bottle of brandy by the nation of Kazakhstan.



The register of the gifts and hospitality offered to rank-and-file Sussex Police officers between July and September shows food, alcohol and complimentary tickets featured heavily among donations.



Most were thank-you presents, while many were accepted on the grounds that it would be rude not to say yes.



Officers and staff are obliged to get permission before accepting gifts to avoid conflicts of interest.



One detective was spoken to by a superintendent because he accepted a £2 chorizo sausage from a member of the public and ate it without getting authorisation from a senior officer.



Authorised gifts included boxes of chocolates in several cases.

PC Sean McDonald, who acts as a liaison between Sussex Police and groups planning protests, was allowed to accept a basket of fruit and food worth £30 from the Citizens Commission on Human Rights - an organisation founded by the Church of Scientology.






The group had marched through Brighton and Hove on June 28 to protest against a psychiatry convention at the Brighton Hilton Metropole hotel.





Traffic officer Inspector Andy Judson accepted £30 tickets from Goodwood Festival of Speed from car manufacturer Hyundai.



Polegate Playscheme gave four cans of beer to three police officers on July 27 while earlier that month a West Sussex PC accepted a KFC voucher from a member of the public as a thank-you for good work.



When extra police patrols were put on during the London riots in August, neighbourhood officers in Hastings were given two trays of doughnuts.



A technical officer accepted a 25g pouch of Golden Virginia rolling tobacco and a PC accepted an orchid from another member of the public.



Some departments received no gifts at all, including the facilities and communications departments.



A spokeswoman for Sussex Police said: “Officers can sometimes be offered gifts or hospitality, usually for the exceptional service they have given.



“In deciding whether or not to accept these, consideration is given to the benefit of maintaining good relationships with people, learning from others and playing a full part in the local community.



“We will always decline any gift or invitation if there is a perceived conflict of interest.”