NY Times Article Fails the Test in Sensational Report

[janet paterson <janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

cross-posted from MGH PD webforum:


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Topic: NY Times Article Fails the Test in Sensational Report
Author: GregM
Posted: March 08, 2001 06:46 PM
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Ok,

I gotta ask. What was Gina Kolata thinking about about
when she penned that hit piece on what was admittedly a
disappointing report from Dr. Freed of the Univ. of Colo.?

The reports are mixed, with her's being the most
pessimistic. But why, in a major piece in a nationally
read newspaper was there no mention of that fact that the
techniques used in the study were three years old, a
lifetime in terms of embryonic stem cell research?

She could have discussed in at least some detail the fact
this was the first controlled human study. It was
unlikely to hit a bulls-eye first shot out of the box.
Lessons are learned and we go on.

No less an authority than William Langston of the
Parkinson's Institute is quoted as saying that stem cell
therapy still holds the greatest promise as a therapy for
PD. Why was there no follow-up to that statement, like
"why do you say that."

And, perhaps most egregious and indicative of the
reporter's knowledge about stem cell research, there was
no mention at all of the following report in which the
Head of the Parkinson's Center for Excellence at Harvard,
Dr. Ole Isacson, and Dr. Ronald McKay of NIH, separately
announced that they had "cured" PD in lab animals? I
would think that the extreme juxtaposition of these
research results would have spurred any reporter to dig
deeper into the story.

I have to believe that their dramatic announcement
indicates that the Isacson/Mckay results are not simply
due to the fact that lab rats aren't human (which
obviously can be a stumbling block and animal studies
don't always pan out). Different techniques were used by
each Dr., using embryonic stem cells. If they differed
from one another, my guess is that those techniques also
differed, perhaps dramatically, from those use by Dr.
Freed in Colorado who began his project with the
information available to him at that time.

Lastly, the NY Times article focused irresponsibly on the
controversial "control" technique of placebo operations
on volunteers. First, advisable or not, it has nothing to
do with the results, ostensibly the purpose of the
article. Second, these volunteers averaged fourteen years
post-dx, and knew the risks when they signed what I
presume was a massive consent form. That may seem like
cold comfort when those who voluntarily participate to
further the progress of science suffer rather reap a
benefit, but again the article caricatures them as if
they were Chinese prisoners and not willing and
knowledgable participants.

Finally, the article even implies that Freed and his
colleagues pulled a fast one as to patient fees. I
seriously doubt that Dr. Stanley Fahn of Columbia (one of
scientist conducting this project), a world renowned
Parkinson's specialist, was cooking the books.

80 Nobel Laureates didn't fax a letter to President Bush
urging continuation of this line of research because they
had nothing better to due between lunch and dinner. My
guess is that the next few days will see other more
balanced articles in response to the Times and wire
service stories.

For the record, this report below from Feb. 16 is
unexplainably omitted from any mention. Read it and take
heart. One trial report at the three-year mark does not
spell the end of what is "still the most promising line
of therapuetic inquiry (Dr. William Langston)."

Greg

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Embryonic Stem Cell Transplants Reverse Symptoms in Mice

ASSOCIATED PRESS

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 16 - Scientists may be on the brink
of curing Parkinson's disease using transplanted
embryonic stem cells, but where and when that new
treatment is tested in humans depends on unresolved
political decisions, researchers suggested Friday.

DR. OLE Isacson of Harvard Medical School and Dr. Ronald
McKay of the National Institutes of Health said Friday
they have both "cured" Parkinson's in mice and rats,
using stem cells removed from embryos of laboratory
animals. .... SNIP ....
--------------------------


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from linda5
posted March 08, 2001 07:19 PM
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Greg,
I am in complete agreement with your post...80 nobel prize winners
must have a better collective idea of where hope ...compared to
the average reporter...if they feel this research shows hope so
do I...Linda


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from janet313313
posted March 08, 2001 07:16 PM
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thank you for this, greg

if you don't mind,
i would like to post your comments to the PARKINSN listserv group

i, too, found myself wondering why the time frame was never mentioned
and was taken aback by all the 'disaster' talk.

i wonder what's going on behind the scenes...

janet

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from GregM
posted March 08, 2001 07:20 PM
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Janet,

Start that crossposting!

Your pal,

Greg

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janet paterson, an akinetic rigid subtype parkie
53 now / 44 dx cd / 43 onset cd / 41 dx pd / 37 onset pd
TEL: 613 256 8340 SMAIL: PO Box 171 Almonte Ontario K0A 1A0 Canada
EMAIL: janet313@xxxxxxxxxxx URL: