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Intimidation and bullying of PACE trial critics
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====Simon Wessely and the PACE trial authors==== Another 2011 claim from a different researcher in the UK was used as evidence that there were "death threats" to multiple researchers, yet the [[PACE trial]] Freedom of Information Act Tribunal in 2015 found no death threats, and the only evidence of "harassment" was a single researcher, Prof. Professor [[Trudie Chalder]], being heckled once at a seminar in [[Norway]]. Professor Sir [[Simon Wessely]], a center manager for the PACE trial and credited in the research, did not give evidence.<ref name="pace2011a">{{cite journal | last1 = White | first1 = PD | authorlink1 = Peter White | last2 = Goldsmith | first2 = KA | authorlink2 = Kimberley Goldsmith | last3 = Johnson | first3 = AL | authorlink3 = Anthony Johnson | last4 = Potts | first4 = L | authorlink4 = Laura Potts | last5 = Walwyn | first5 = R | authorlink5 = Rebecca Walwyn | last6 = DeCesare | first6 = JC | authorlink6 = Julia DeCesare | last7 = Baber | first7 = HL | authorlink7 = Hannah Baber | last8 =Burgess | first8 = M | authorlink8 = Mary Burgess | last9 = Clark | first9 = LV | authorlink9 = Lucy Clark | last10 = Cox | first10 = DL | authorlink10 = Diane Cox | last11 = Bavinton | first11 = J | authorlink11 = Jessica Bavinton | last12 = Angus | first12 = BJ | authorlink12 = Brian Angus | last13 = Murphy | first13 = G | authorlink13 = Gabrielle Murphy | last14 = Murphy | first14 = M | authorlink14 = Maurice Murphy | last15 = O'Dowd | first15 = H | authorlink15 = Hazel O'Dowd | last16 = Wilks | first16 = D | authorlink16 = David Wilks | last17 = McCrone | first17 = P | authorlink17 = Paul McCrone | last18 = Chalder | first18 = T | authorlink18 = Trudie Chalder | last19 = Sharpe | first19 = M | authorlink19 = Michael Sharpe | last20 = The PACE Trial Management Group | authorlink20 = PACE Trial Management Group| title = Comparison of adaptive pacing therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, graded exercise therapy, and specialist medical care for chronic fatigue syndrome (PACE): a randomised trial| journal = The Lancet | volume = 377 | issue = 9768 | pages = 823–836 | date = March 5, 2011 | pmid = 21334061| doi= 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60096-2| url = http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60096-2/}}</ref><ref name="FirstTierTribunal2015">{{Cite news | title = First-tier tribunal: Information Rights Appeal EA/2015/0269. | url = https://informationrights.decisions.tribunals.gov.uk//DBFiles/Decision/i1854/Queen%20Mary%20University%20of%20London%20EA-2015-0269%20(12-8-16).PDF | page = 40 | last = Kennedy | first = Brian | last2 = Stephenson | first2 = Darryl | last3 = Watson | first3 = Nigel|quote=The evidence of <nowiki>[expert witness]</nowiki> Professor Anderson that third parties could not identify participants from the information alone and that, when pressed, he said that the chance of an "activist" being able to discover information that would lead to individual identification was remote, it was clear that his assessment of activist behaviour was, in our view, grossly exaggerated and the only actual evidence was that an individual at a seminar had heckled Professor Chalder. The identity of those questioning the research, who had signed an open letter or supported it, was impressive.}}</ref> The NIH referred to a 2011 UK newspaper interview of Simon Wessely, but this had been known to be a baseless allegation by 2015, when it was established that no evidence of death threats or violent threats could be provided.<ref name="FirstTierTribunal2015" /> During the criticism of the PACE trial by patient groups the PACE trial psychiatrists had publicised that they were receiving death threats and harassment, in particular Professor Sir Simon Wessely. The PACE trial investigators and Professor Simon Wessely have publicly claimed they have been harassed.<ref name="Guardian20110821">{{cite news | last1 = Guardian | last2 = Robin McKie| title = Chronic fatigue syndrome researchers face death threats from militants| date =Aug 21, 2011| url= http://www.theguardian.com/society/2011/aug/21/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-myalgic-encephalomyelitis}}</ref><ref name="paceWessely20110827">{{cite news | last1 = Wessely | first1 = Simon | authorlink1 = Simon Wessely| title = Mind the gap - It’s time to stop separating psychiatry and neurology| publisher = Spectator | date = Aug 27, 2011| url= http://www.spectator.co.uk/2011/08/mind-the-gap-3/}}</ref><ref name="paceWessely20110806">{{cite news | last1 = Wessely | first1 = Simon | authorlink1 = Simon Wessely | last2 = Marsh | first2 = Stefanie | authorlink2 = | title = Interview with Professor Simon Wessely| publisher = The Times| date = August 6, 2011| url = http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/science/medicine/article3116831.ece| archive-url= http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2011/08/interview-with-professor-simon-wessely-the-times-6-august-2011/ | archive-date = 6 Aug 2011}}</ref><ref name="paceWessely20110729">{{Cite web | last1 = Wessely | first1 = Simon | authorlink1 = Simon Wessely| title = Malicious' harassment of ME researchers| publisher = BBC - Today | date = Jul 29, 2011| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9550000/9550947.stm}}</ref><ref name="ZimmerC20110821">{{Cite web| last1 = Zimmer | first1 = Carl | title = Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Death threats for scientists?| publisher= Discover Magazine | date = Aug 21, 2011| url= http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/loom/2011/08/21/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-death-threats-for-scientists/ }}</ref><ref name="ScienceMag20110906">{{Cite web | last1 = Lowe | first1 = Derek | authorlink1 =| title = Chronic Fatigue: Enough Energy Left for Death Threats, Anyway| publisher = Science Translational Medicine Blog| date = Sep 6, 2011| url = http://blogs.sciencemag.org/pipeline/archives/2011/09/06/chronic_fatigue_enough_energy_left_for_death_threats_anyway }}</ref><ref name="ScienceMag20151027">{{citation | last1 = Cohen | first1 = Jon | authorlink1 = | title = Criticism mounts of a long-controversial chronic fatigue study| publisher= Science Magazine | date = Oct 27, 2015 | url= http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/10/criticism-mounts-long-controversial-chronic-fatigue-study}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph20110729">{{Cite web| title = ME researchers 'receive death threats from sufferers' | date = Jul 29, 2011| url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8669893/ME-researchers-receive-death-threats-from-sufferers.html |publisher =The Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="BBCUK20110721">{{cite web| publisher = BBC News | last = Fielden | first = Tom| title = 'Torrent of abuse' hindering ME research| date = Jul 21, 2011| url= http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14326514}}</ref> A feature article in the BMJ (read by most UK doctors) was published in June 2011 called ''Dangers of research into chronic fatigue syndrome''.<ref name="Hawkes2011">{{citation | last1 = Hawkes | first1 = Nigel | title = Dangers of research into chronic fatigue syndrome| journal = The BMJ | date = 22 Jul 2011| url = http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d3780| doi= 10.1136/bmj.d3780 }}</ref> ''The Times'' article was titled ''Doctor’s hate mail is sent by the people he tried to cure''.<ref name="paceWessely20110806" /> An article was also published in the ''Sunday Times'' magazine with Simon Wessely repeating the death threats narrative, this time with an artist's impression of a death threat note on the cover of the section, although no such note was received (only an "unpleasant" phonecall).<ref name="SunTimesUK20130505">{{Cite news | publisher= The Sunday Times| title = This man faced death threats and abuse. His crime? He suggested that ME was a mental illness| date = May 5, 2013 | url = http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/Magazine/Features/article1252529.ece }}</ref> In 2012, an article headline stated ''It’s safer to insult the Prophet Mohammed than to contradict the armed wing of the ME brigade''.<ref name="Telegraph20120928">{{citation | last1 = The Telegraph | title = It’s safer to insult the Prophet Mohammed than to contradict the armed wing of the ME brigade | date = 28 Sep 2012 | url= http://www.meassociation.org.uk/2012/10/its-safer-to-insult-the-prophet-mohammed-than-to-contradict-the-armed-wing-of-the-me-brigade-daily-telegraph-blogs-28-september-2012/}}</ref> However, the PACE authors and their supporters have been accused of blurring the line between harassment and legitimate criticism of the study. Documentation obtained under the Freedom of Information Act from meetings in 2013 that were attended by some of PACE’s principal investigators include a statement that “harassment is most damaging in the form of vexatious FOIs [Freedom of Information requests].”<ref name="TymesTrust2014bts">{{Cite web | last1 = Tymes Trust | first1 = | authorlink1 = Tymes Trust| title = Behind the scenes: Setting up the UK CFS/ME Research Collaborative (UK CMRC)| date = Aug 2014| url= https://www.dropbox.com/s/92m09l9tq55pihh/Behind%20the%20Scenes%20-%20Research%20Collaborative.pdf?dl=0 }}</ref> This framing of FOIA requests as harassment is widely taken to be a reference to the PACE authors, who have complained about the number of FOI requests that they have received for data<ref name="FOI20150318">{{citation | last1 = Information Commissioner's Office| title = FOI Decision Notice: to QMUL| date = Mar 18, 2015 | url= https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2015/1043579/fs_50558352.pdf }}</ref> and who have dismissed several as "vexatious":<ref name="FOI20150629GM-c">{{citation | last1 = McPhee | first1 = Graham | authorlink1 = Graham McPhee | title = FOI Request: Fitness data for PACE trial | date = 28 Jul 2015 | url= https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/fitness_data_for_pace_trial#outgoing-464451 }}</ref><ref name="FOI20151101AS">{{citation | last1 = Sheridan | first1 = Anna | authorlink1 = | url= https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/raw_6mwt_data_after_treatment/new | title = FOI Request: Raw 6min walking test data after treatment | date = Nov 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="FOI20151211JC">{{citation | last1 = Kings College London| title = FOI Request: Response from Kings College London to James Coyne | date = Dec 11, 2015 | url= https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/23608059/PACE%20F325-15%20-%20Prof.%20James%20Coyne%20-%20Response-2.pdf}}</ref><ref name="FOI20160309AS">{{citation | last1 = Information Commissioner's Office, UK| title = FOI Decision Notice: to QMUL| date = Mar 9, 2016 | url= https://ico.org.uk/media/action-weve-taken/decision-notices/2016/1623721/fs50609018.pdf }}</ref> the Information Commissioner's Office was told that Professor Peter White “believes that the requests are clearly part of a campaign to discredit the trial” and that “the effect of these requests has been that the team involved in the PACE trial, and in particular the professor involved, now feel harassed and believe that the requests are vexatious in nature.”<ref name="FOI20150318" /> The scientific criticisms of the PACE trial were referred to by the investigators - and The Lancet - as part of a "campaign" to undermine the the study. An editorial comment in the prestigious journal ''The Lancet'' described the trial as “rigorously conducted” and questioned whether the “coordination of the response... has been born... from an active campaign to discredit the research”.<ref name="pace2011LancetEd">{{citation | last1 = The Lancet| title = Editorial: Patients' power and PACE| journal = The Lancet | date = May 17, 2011 | doi= 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60696-X | url= http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60696-X/fulltext }}</ref> In an interview on Australian national radio Dr Richard Horton, The Lancet's editor, described patients who criticised the trial as “a fairly small, but highly organised, very vocal and very damaging group of individuals”.<ref name="pace20110418radio">{{Citation | last1 = Swan | first1 = Norman | authorlink1 =| last2 = Sharpe | first2 = Michael | authorlink2 = Michael Sharpe | last3 = Horton | first3 = Richard | authorlink3 = Richard Horton| title = Health Report - Comparison of treatments for chronic fatigue syndrome - the PACE trial| publisher= ABC Radio National (Australia) - Health Report | date = Apr 18, 2011| url= http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/comparison-of-treatments-for-chronic-fatigue/2993296#transcript | url-status=dead| archive-date = 18 Apr 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110423065733/http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rn/podcast/2011/04/hrt_20110418_0830.mp3}}</ref> The PACE trial authors used claims of "death threats" and "harassment" among their reasons for refusing to provide anonymised data to many individuals and also refused to accept the UK Information Commissioners Office Tribunal order to release the full PACE trial data in 2015. During the appeal to the Tribunal an articlewas published by their associates in ''Nature'' in which they bizarrely described disabled ME sufferers as “hard-line opponents” of research into chronic fatigue syndrome and compared them with industry lobbyists such as tobacco and climate change denialists.<ref name="Lewandowsky20160125">{{Cite web| last1 = Lewandowsky | first1 = Stephan | authorlink1 = | last2 = Bishop | first2 = Dorothy | authorlink2 = | title = Research integrity: Don't let transparency damage science| publisher= Nature News| date = Jan 25, 2016| url = http://www.nature.com/news/research-integrity-don-t-let-transparency-damage-science-1.19219}}</ref><ref name="Lewandowsky20160204">{{Cite news | last1 = Lewandowsky | first1 = Stephan | authorlink1 = | title = Most Christians are definitely not terrorists| website= Shaping Tomorrows World (blogs)| date = 4 Feb 2016| url = http://www.shapingtomorrowsworld.org/lewandowskycfs.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170921192242/http://www.shapingtomorrowsworld.org:80/lewandowskycfs.html| archive-date = Sep 21, 2017}}</ref><ref name="NYT20110218">{{Cite news | publisher = New York Times| date = Feb 17, 2011| title = Psychotherapy Eases Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Study Finds| url=http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/18/health/research/18fatigue.html?_r=0}}</ref> {{Quote frame|text=Wrapping themselves in victimhood, the [PACE authors] have even managed to extend their definition of harassment to include any questioning of their science and the filing of requests for data — a tactic that has shielded their work from legitimate and much-needed scrutiny.”<ref name="Tuller20160201" /<ref name="MEAction20160201victim">{{Cite web | publisher = #MEAction | authorlink1 = #MEAction | title = Tuller: PACE authors "wrapping themselves in victimhood"| date = Feb 1, 2016| url= http://www.meaction.net/2016/02/01/tuller-pace-authors-wrapping-themselves-in-victimhood/}}</ref> | author = [[David Tuller]] | date = Feb 1, 2016}}
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