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Intimidation and bullying of PACE trial critics
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== Testimonials and other examples == === Keith Geraghty === [[Keith Geraghty]]'s publication of ''‘PACE-Gate’: When clinical trial evidence meets open data access'' in the [[Journal of Health Psychology, Special Issue: The PACE Trial|Journal of Health Psychology's special issue about the PACE trial]], which PACE trial principle investigators had unsuccessfully failed to block publication of, resulted in them complaining to journal editor [[David Marks]], demanding that the article should be amended to disclose information about Dr Geraghty's health: that he was diagnosed with [[chronic fatigue syndrome]], and claiming that this was evidence of a "conflict of interest", and also demanding a partial retraction of "claims and language" that offended them.<ref name="PACEgate">{{Cite journal | last = Geraghty | first = Keith J | author-link = Keith Geraghty | date = Aug 2017 | title = ‘PACE-Gate’: When clinical trial evidence meets open data access | url = http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1359105316675213|journal=Journal of Health Psychology|language=en|volume=22|issue=9|pages=1106–1112|doi=10.1177/1359105316675213|issn=1359-1053|pmc=|pmid=|access-date=|quote=|via=}}</ref><ref name="Privilege" /> This request was refused.<br /> Keith Geraghty: "...after I published articles that were critical of the PACE trial, two of the [[PACE Trial Management Group|PACE authors,]] [[Peter White|White]] and [[Michael Sharpe|Sharpe,]] lodged complaints about me and my work to my host University. Emails and phone calls to ones bosses is very intimidating."<ref name="GeraghtyTweet">{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/keithgeraghty/status/1098156393159376896 | title = Dr Keith Geraghty on Twitter | last = Geraghty | first = Dr Keith | date = 2019-02-20 | website = Twitter|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=For the record this morning, after I published articles that werecritical of the PACE trial, two of the PACE authors W&S lodgedcomplaints about me and my work to my host University. Emails and phonecalls to ones bosses is very intimidating.|publisher=@keithgeraghty|at=1:44 AM}}</ref> —"... within weeks [of requesting access to PACE trial data], a complaint was made to my home institution, the University of Manchester - from Prof. [[Peter White]], stating I was acting in a highly unprofessional manner."<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://forums.phoenixrising.me/threads/petition-opposing-mega.47466/ | title = Petition: Opposing MEGA | website = Phoenix Rising ME / CFS Forums|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> === Emma Reinhold === Dr [[Emma Reinhold]]: "I tweeted that I hoped PACE would be discredited and tagged [[Ben Goldacre]], not knowing his connection with [[Simon Wessely]]. Within 3 days Simon Wessely followed me on Twitter. [[Clare Gerada|His wife]] sent me a facebook friend request and the [[Royal College of General Practitioners|RCGP]] said they had received 'complaints' and were considering cancelling the [https://www.ehlers-danlos.org/news/spotlight/ EDS Spotlight project] (which I had just been appointed to run but had not received a contract at that stage) to produce the [https://gptoolkit.ehlers-danlos.org/ EDS toolkit] for GPs. We were told by RCGP we couldn't mention [[fatigue]] in the context of [[Ehlers-Danlos syndrome|EDS]].We refused to comply as this is contrary to the evidence."<ref name="Reinhold">{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/DrEReinhold/status/1098233146015973377 | last = Reinhold | first = Emma | date = 2019-02-20 | website = Twitter|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | title = Dr. E Reinhold | authorlink=|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|publisher=@DrEReinhold|quote=I tweeted that I hoped PACE would be discredited and tagged ben goldacre, not knowing his connection with SW. Within 3 days SW followed me on Twitter. His wife sent me a FB friend request and the RCGP said they had received 'complaints' and were considering cancelling the...—... EDS Spotlight project (which I had just been appointed to run but had not received a contract at that stage) to produce the EDS toolkit for GPs. We were told by RCGP we couldn't mention fatigue in the context of EDS.We refused to comply as this is contrary to the evidence.}}</ref> === Jonathan Edwards === According to Professor [[Jonathan Edwards]] "If you criticize PACE in the [[United Kingdom|UK]], there is a quiet phone call to your employer and the next morning you are asked to a meeting to reconsider your contract. I get emails from people to whom this has happened. The only reason why I am the only UK academic to call out on PACE is that I am retired so do not have an employer."<ref name="Edwards">{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/MECFSNews/status/897756698303188992 | title = ME/CFS News Quotes Jonathan Edwards on Twitter | last = Edwards | first = Jonathan | date = 2017-08-16 | website = Twitter|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=Prof. Edwards: if you criticize the #pacetrial in the UK you risk your job.|publisher=@MECFSNews|at=2:47 AM}}</ref> === James Coyne === Professor [[James Coyne]]: "I have a better record of quality and quantity of publications than any of the #PACE investigators but they somehow found me unqualified to write or review papers related to the trial. They even challenged my competence to analyze the trial data when I requested it."<ref name=":12" /> "Professor [[Michael Sharpe]] filed a '''<nowiki>@</nowiki>COPE''' complaint concerning [[Journal of Health Psychology|J Health Psych]] allowing me to review his commentary on '''<nowiki>#PACEgate</nowiki>''', citing my request for the PACE data as demonstrating bias and undeclared conflict of interest."<ref name=":12">{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/CoyneoftheRealm/status/1097626513565016065 | title = Prof. James C. Coyne on Twitter | last = Coyne | first = James C | date = 2019-02-18 | website = Twitter|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=I have a better record of quality and quantity of publications than any of the #PACE investigators but they somehow found me unqualified to write or review papers related to the trial. They even challenged my competence to analyze the trial data when I requested it|publisher=@CoyneoftheRealm}}</ref> When Coyne criticized the PACE trial on his blog hosted by [[PLOS ONE]], the PACE authors pressured PLOS ONE to forbid him from writing any further articles on the topic. According to Coyne, when he revealed this to a journalist, PLOS ONE responded by abruptly blocking him from posting altogether.<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/CoyneoftheRealm/status/1098326838701625354 | title = James C. Coyne on Twitter | last = Coyne | first = James C. | date = 2019-02-20 | website = Twitter|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=I pushed @plosone to let me reveal that I was not being allowed to post about #PACEtrial. When I hinted this to journalists after 2 years, @PLOSblogs abruptly blocked me from posting altogether. @PLOS caved to #PACE investigators and gave up its lead in #datasharing.|publisher=@CoyneoftheRealm|at=1:01 PM}}</ref><ref name="Coyne20190220">{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/CoyneoftheRealm/status/1098328714163695616 | title = James C. Coyne on Twitter | last = Coyne | first = James C. Coyne | date = 2019-02-20 | website = @CoyneoftheRealm|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|quote=#PACE investigators insisted would be conflict of interest for me to blog about #PACEtrial if my request for data still active. So I was blocked from either posting or revealing prohibition. @PLOSblogs made untrue statement my blog was ending due to inability to monitor COI —I encourage @PLOSONE Senior Editor Joerg Heber @joergheber to correct the record with his verison of events concerning @PLOSblog Mind the Brain.|publisher=@CoyneoftheRealm|at=1:09PM}}</ref> === Caroline Struthers === [[Caroline Struthers]]: "I was intimidated and upset when [[Lillebeth Larun|Larun]] wrote to my boss to complain about me when I posted @[[Julie Rehmeyer|julierehmeyer]]'s article on my personal FB page."<ref name="Struthers">{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/Good_Reports/status/1097888253070491648 | title = Caroline Struthers on Twitter | last = Struthers | first = Caroline | date = 2019-02-19 | website = Twitter|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | authorlink = |archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|publisher=@Good_Reports|quote=What about @cochranecollab 's "duty of care" to its patient advocate contributors? I was intimidated and upset when Larun wrote to my boss to complain about me when I posted @julierehmeyer's article on my personal FB page. Yet Larun, as an author, is being protected by Cochrane.|at=7:58 AM}}</ref> [[Lillebeth Larun]] is author of the [[Cochrane]] review of [[Graded exercise therapy|exercise therapy]] for [[chronic fatigue syndrome]] (CFS). Struthers had posted Rehmeyer's ''Stat'' article ''Bad science misled millions with chronic fatigue syndrome. Here's how we fought back.''<ref name="statnews">{{Cite web | url = https://www.statnews.com/2016/09/21/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-pace-trial/ | title = How bad science misled chronic fatigue syndrome patients | last = Rehmeyer | first = Julie | authorlink=Julie Rehmeyer | date = 2016-09-21 | website = STAT|language=en-US|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> ===Carol Monaghan, MP === During a [[United Kingdom|UK]] parliamentary debate on [[myalgic encephalomyelitis]] (ME) and the PACE trial, [[Carol Monaghan]] revealed that Professor Sharpe had written to tell her that her behavior was unbecoming of an [[:Category:United Kingdom Members of Parliament|MP]].<ref>{{Cite web | url = https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/3d63c39d-18f3-4cd7-8509-c91785dced98 | title = Parliamentlive.tv|website=parliamentlive.tv|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> === Julie Rehmeyer === Professor [[Michael Sharpe|Michael Sharpe]] attempted to obtain a retraction or correction<ref name="TullerRetract20190218">{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2019/02/18/trial-by-error-professor-sharpes-retraction-requests/ | title = Trial By Error: Professor Sharpe’s Retraction Requests | last = Tuller | first =David | authorlink =David Tuller |website=[[Virology blog]]|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> of the article by [[Julie Rehmeyer|Julie Rehmeyer]]<ref name="statnews" /> several years after it was published, falsely claiming the article suggested he was involved in "fraudulent research". ===Steven Lubet === Sharpe also requested the retraction or correction of Professor [[Steven Lubet]]'s article ''How a study about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was doctored, adding to pain and stigma''.<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://theconversation.com/how-a-study-about-chronic-fatigue-syndrome-was-doctored-adding-to-pain-and-stigma-74890 | title = How a study about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome was doctored, adding to pain and stigma | last = Lubet | first = Steven|website=The Conversation|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref><ref name="TullerRetract20190218" /> === Journal of Health Psychology === An attempt was made to block publication of a [[Journal of Health Psychology, Special Issue: The PACE Trial]]<ref>{{Citation | url =https://journals.sagepub.com/toc/hpqa/22/9 | title = Journal of Health Psychology, Special Issue: The PACE Trial|website=SAGE publishing|language=en|access-date=2019-02-20 | date = Aug 2017|volume=22 |issue=9 | last = Marks | first = David F | authorlink = David Marks|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|pages=1103-1105}}</ref> by wrongly claiming that it had not been [[peer review|ed]]<ref name="inewsSpecialIssue">{{Cite web | url = https://inews.co.uk/news/health/scientists-furious-row-pace-trial-journal-special-edition/ | title = ‘You’re a disgusting old fart neoliberal hypocrite’ – scientists in furious row over ME study | last = Gallagher | first = Paul | authorlink= | date = 2017-08-01 | website = inews.co.uk|language=en-GB|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-02-20|quote=There was a last ditch attempt to block publication of the special issue by a powerful but unknown PACE trial advocate… A weaselly coward suggested papers weren’t properly peer reviewed and that the special issue should therefore not be published. That of course was nonsense}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/blogs/news/last-ditch-attempt-to-block-publication-of-the-special-issue-of-the-journal-of-health-psychology-foiled | title = Last ditch attempt to block publication of the Special Issue of the Journal of Health Psychology foiled | last = Coyne | first = James C. | authorlink = James Coyne | date = 2017 | website = Coyne of the Realm|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=dead|access-date=}}</ref>―while principle PACE trial investigators [[Peter White]], [[Trudie Chalder]] and [[Michael Sharpe]] also requested that their own editorial ''not'' be peer reviewed and not receive replies.<ref name="Privilege">{{Cite web| title = Asserting privilege: PACE investigators request that their manuscript not be peer reviewed or receive replies | last = Coyne | first = James C. | authorlink = James Coyne | date = 2017-11-07 | website = Coyne of the Realm | url = https://www.coyneoftherealm.com/2017/07/11/asserting-privilege-pace-investigators-request-that-their-manuscript-not-be-peer-reviewed-or-receive-replies/}}</ref> === David Tuller === Professor [[Esther Crawley]], who is a proponent of the PACE trial but was not involved in the running of it, has attempted to silence and intimidate [[David Tuller]],<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2017/11/29/trial-by-error-the-crawley-chronicles-continued/ | title = Trial By Error: The Crawley Chronicles, Continued|website=[[Virology blog]]|access-date=2019-02-20}}</ref> including referring to "libellous blogs" and "fake anti science" in a professional presentation while showing an image of the [[Virology blog]] he writes on, and incorrectly claiming he has been sent a "Cease and Desist" letter by the University of Bristol.<ref name="Tuller20170503">{{Cite web | url = http://www.virology.ws/2017/05/03/trial-by-error-continued-my-libelous-blogging-on-virology-blog/ | title = Trial By Error, Continued: My Libelous Blogging on Virology Blog | last = Tuller | first = David | authorlink = David Tuller | date = May 3, 2015 | website = [[Virology blog]]|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-02-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://twitter.com/keithgeraghty/status/857987810955059200 | title = @davidtuller1 blog listed under fake anti science slide - disgraceful | last = Geraghty | first = Keith | authorlink = Keith Geraghty | date = 2017-04-28 | website = twitter|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-02-28}}</ref> When Tuller contacted Professor Crawley asking what statements were incorrect, and offering to change anything that was untrue, she did not respond.<ref name="Tuller20170503" /> === Countess Margaret of Mar === In 2012, an interview with [[Simon Wessely]] was published by ''The Independent''<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/me-bitterest-row-yet-in-a-long-saga-8348389.html | title = ME: bitterest row yet in a long saga | last = Manning | first = Sanchez | authorlink = | date = Nov 25, 2012 | website = The Independent|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-03-01|quote=Professor Wessely has previously come under fire for research he jointly conducted which concluded that cognitive behavioural therapy could be beneficial in treating ME. In August last year he told how he had been harassed, stalked and intimidated by fanatical lobby groups that disputed his the findings.}}</ref> which named the [[Margaret of Mar, 31st Countess of Mar|Countess of Mar]] as "an opponent" of Wessely’s, and stated "he told how he had been harassed, stalked and intimidated by fanatical lobby groups that disputed his the [sic] findings", she responded with an open letter to Simon Wessely<ref name="CountessOfMar4Dec2012" /> denying she had ever harassed him, and describing a catalogue of harassment and rude behavior he had subjected her to. [[Simon Wessely]], whose interview was shortly followed by a letter signed by 27 researchers in support,<ref>{{Cite web | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/ios-letters-emails-online-postings-2-december-2012-8373777.html | title = Letters, emails & online postings | last = White | first = Peter | authorlink = Peter White | last2 = Sharpe | first2 = Michael | authorlink2 = Michael Sharpe | date = Dec 2, 2012 | website = The Independent|language=en|archive-url=|archive-date=|url-status=|access-date=2019-03-01|publisher=The Independent on Sunday|quote=So it is with sadness that we read in The Independent on Sunday reports of false allegations made against Simon Wessely - one of the few UK clinicians with a specialist interest in treating CFS/ME and someone who has done pioneering research in the field. Ironically, it was because of accusations like this that Professor Wessely received the award in the first place. | first3 = Esther | last3 = Crawley | authorlink3 = Esther Crawley | last4 = Holgate | first4 = Stephen | authorlink4 = Stephen Holgate|others=[[Rona Moss-Morris]], [[Charlotte Feinmann]] [[Hugo Critchley]], [[Brian Angus]], [[Steven Reid]], [[Patrick Doherty]], [[Paul Little]], [[Maurice Murphy]], [[Tim Peto]], [[Mansel Aylward]], [[Alastair Miller]], [[Diane Cox]], [[Jonathan Sterne]],[[Margaret May]]<sub>Subscript text</sub>[[George Davey-Smith]], [[Jade Thai]], [[Gabrielle Murphy]], [[Hazel O'Dowd]], [[Brian Marien]], [[Selwyn Richards]], [[Alison Wearden]], and [[Trudie Chalder]]}}</ref> replied to the Countess denying the specific harassment she had described. Prof. [[Peter White]] who signed the letter in support of Simon Wessely later apologized.
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