Denigrat. by design

Denigration By Design

Permission has kindly been granted by the author to reproduce this document on our website

Opening statement from the coordinator of the 25% M.E. Group

The document that you are about to read is one that has been carefully put together by the authors concerned. I believe it has been done with honesty, and with a desire to put into the public arena problems that many M.E. sufferers have to deal with at the hands of some medical professionals, especially psychiatrists. It is often left up to the effort of the patients, (as with many other illnesses), to campaign to get correct recognition and treatment for their condition. This is a sad state of affairs, but one that is true.

In putting this document onto our Website, we are in no-way trying to be malicious towards anyone, but rather, allowing others to decide for themselves about the material enclosed and to then form their own conclusions.

Hope you find the information informative.

Simon Lawrence.

Note:

In the frontispiece to the 1996 manuscript "Denigration by Design", it was clearly stated that no personal animosity whatsoever was directed at Dr. Wessley.

It was noted that there was widespread concern that Wessley's published papers do not provide a balanced or accurate picture of the available published world literature on myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME).

It was also stated that the aim of the review was to provide a factual record of Wessley's involvement in the perception, both medical and public, of ME.

It was noted that whilst even the hint of any kind of vendetta against Wessley would be unacceptable and unprofessional, the exposing of a genuine problem (with which Wessley is closely associated), is, however, essential.

Likewise in this 1999 update, it is re-iterated that there is no personal animosity directed at Wessley.

Rather, this updated literature review seeks only to bring to public attention matters with which Wessley continues to be closely associated and which some believe might indeed amount to scientific misconduct.

FOREWORD TO DENIGRATION BY DESIGN: UPDATE: 1996 - 1999

A Review, with References, of the Role of Dr (now Professor) Simon Wessely in the Perception of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

by Margaret Williams (ME Research UK)

The main problems which patients with ME/CFS have had over the last decade are entrenched arguments whether their multiple symptoms have a physical or a psychological basis.

We all know that especially in the UK psychiatrists have succeeded in flooding the medical literature with results of their studies and literature reviews which focus on their preferred interpretation. Professor Simon Wessely is perhaps the 'Godfather' of this school of thought. It is difficult to assess precisely the influence which his prolific output has had not only on his peers, all practising GPs and specialists, but also on the way in which the UK government and especially the Department of Social Security have structured their details on CFS/ME in their Disability Handbook and how these are interpreted.

In the Update analysis Denigration by Design? the author takes a critical look at the methods adopted by Professor Wessely to achieve what is perhaps best described as 'mass-deception' of the true nature of ME. This latest analysis follows an earlier compilation of similar details for the period 1987-1996, which will also be on the Website soon.

The Countess of Mar, House of Lords, has sent both volumes of Denigration by Design? (the original and the Up-Date) to government officers for presentation to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Director of the Benefits Agency Medical Services, asking for reasoned responses. - To date she has had replies from Lord Hunt (DOH) and Baroness Hollis (DSS). Lord Hunt replied in general terms on various aspects of ME/CFS, but instead of submitting these documents to the CMO, as specifically requested by the Countess of Mar, they were sent to Professor Allen Hutchinson, who chairs the CMO's Working Group on CFS/ME and who had already been sent a copy of the Up-Date part. Baroness Hollis replied in general terms, stating that whilst Professor Wessely's views are considered, he is not the only expert to be consulted by the Department's advisors. Copies of Part I (1987-96) were sent to the Director of the Medical Services and to the Department's Chief Medical Advisor (CMA) {Dr Mansel Aylward}, but it seems that the Up-Date part (1996-99) has gone missing within the Department. A second reply from Baroness Hollis stated that as the views expressed in this document were those of two people on an individual and his work, as opposed to a scientific review of the available published literature, neither the CMA nor the Medical Director felt it appropriate to comment on Denigration by Design?.

There is ongoing correspondence at government level over these issues. If you want to find out more about Professor Wessely's remarkable skills, please read on.

7.2.2000