McKee’s Response to the RCP Report
McKee’s Response to the RCP Report: As night follows day, Martin McKee rejects the RCP report
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by Dave Cross
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McKee supported his position by quoting the most dubious of studies, usually stemming from Stanton Glantz’ region of California. He stood shoulder to shoulder with Professor John Ashton, claiming that he too suffered from bullies online. What also unites Ashton, Glantz and McKee is their inability to accept evidence that challenges their opinions. They embody the stereotype of stale academics that with in their offices believing they hold all the knowledge and answers.
When Public Health England released their report declaring vaping to be 95% safer than smoking, McKee was quick to dismiss it with allegations it was corrupted by the influence of Big Tobacco. Despite being humiliated by responses lambasting his criticism, McKee didn’t learn his lesson. It was inevitable that he would make a comment regarding the Royal College of Physicians report last week.
“Sir, Once again, England seems out of step with medical and public health organisations in the rest of the world, and even the rest of the UK, in its calls to encourage use of e-cigarettes (“Vaping Vindicated”, leader, Apr 28). In particular, it contrasts with the call, a few days earlier, by 31 leading US health groups for the Food and Drug Administration to strengthen regulation of these products.
An earlier report from Public Health England was heavily criticised for, among other things, its selective use of evidence, for example by failing to cite a major review noting concerns about the safety of these products. Inexplicably, the Royal College of Physicians report ignores a recent review of 38 studies, published by The Lancet, finding that e-cigarettes are associated with a lower probability of quitting.
Similarly, it suggests that “snus” (oral tobacco) has been effective in reducing smoking in Sweden, a view not supported by scientific evidence. While remaining open to the possibility that e-cigarettes may be effective as part of individually tailored smoking cessation interventions, it is premature to encourage their widespread use.”
Seven others co-signed the letter to The Times along with McKee, including Australian prohibitionist and sociologist Simon Chapman. Their missive was another masterclass in bluster, hypocrisy and ignorance when portraying the RCP report as being out of step.
Clive Bates was the first to deliver a swift rebuke to them. In calling the communication a “flat-earth letter”, Bates points out: “the RCP has meticulously argued its case over a 200-page assessment put together by a team of experts”, who are “from the top tier of tobacco and nicotine research.” He contrasts this with an absolute lack of anything comparable from McKee’s European Public Health Association.
What will it take to get McKee to accept the arguments being put forward by PHE and the RCP? Nothing, it would appear, as he rejoinders criticism with reference to a Stanton Glantz study. This McKee is not for turning.
Dave Cross
Journalist at POTVDave is a freelance writer; with articles on music, motorbikes, football, pop-science, vaping and tobacco harm reduction in Sounds, Melody Maker, UBG, AWoL, Bike, When Saturday Comes, Vape News Magazine, and syndicated across the Johnston Press group. He was published in an anthology of “Greatest Football Writing”, but still believes this was a mistake. Dave contributes sketches to comedy shows and used to co-host a radio sketch show. He’s worked with numerous start-ups to develop content for their websites.
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