I love BBC News. They have a hard-hitting, take-no-prisoners approach when it comes to reporting the news. Makes the U.S. media look like a bunch of wussies.

Posted by: Marissa at May 19, 2008 11:01 AM

It's pure comedy genius Phil.

I don't expect the show to be up online for more than 24 hours so your viewers may wanna check out part of the Garnier scripts over at my blog.

http://fiddaman.blogspot.com/2008/05/garnier-walks-out-of-bbc-when-pressed.html

Sorry for the plug :)

Fid

Posted by: Fiddy at May 19, 2008 11:27 AM

They could do much more than this.
BBC is covering this for more than 5 years. They know all about this scandal. But do too little despite the amount of data they have.
Don't deceive yourselves. They are not that impartial.
It took them 3 years to make the second Panorama on Seroxat and SSRIs.
Charles Medawar was on the first one.
But the story they tell is not that different from the Newsweek approach.

But it's possible to try to catch their attention here
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/default.stm

On the " HAVE YOU GOT AN IDEA?

Have you got a good story? What do you want to talk about? "

It would be great if they started receiving "ideas" on "mental health" from US!

They have already received "ideas" from a certain Brazilian.
:)

It's not of great help but...

Posted by: Ana at May 19, 2008 01:06 PM

No!
I had not read the Newsweek article yet!
BBC is not like this.
Where's the Newsweek which reported the Halcion violent behaviour on October, 1991?

This terrible article on bipolar disorder in childhood looks like the Brazilian's magazines.
And this is all we have on the media.

Posted by: Ana at May 19, 2008 01:23 PM

This Interview is astounding..
And I don't say that lightly..
I hope Fid doesn't mind but I would like to paste his transcript of it here (from the excellent "seroxat sufferers" blog")

MONDAY, MAY 19, 2008
Garnier Walks Out of BBC When pressed about Seroxat
What's it like to be put under undue pressure?

Ask JP Garnier - CEO of GlaxoSmithKline.

On the Today show on BBC's Radio 4 Garnier was pressed to answer questions about Seroxat... what did he do?

Titty tantrum time - He couldn't stand the heat... so walked out!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

On speaking of the MHRA investigation into his company he said:

"They [MHRA] have concluded, by the way, that the company [GSK] didn't do anything wrong"

No?

Excuse me Monsieur Garnier but didn't the MHRA find that your company failed to show that Seroxat was effective in treating major depressive disorder in children?

Didn't they also find that Paxil [Seroxat] Trial 377, was conducted and this also failed to show that Seroxat was effective?

Didn't they find that your company made no amendment to the SPC on the basis of these data?

And what of the internal documents Monsieur Garnier?

Didn't it state... “it would be commercially unacceptable to include a statement that efficacy had not been demonstrated, as this would undermine the profile of paroxetine”?

Yet you go on national radio and say:

"They [MHRA] have concluded, by the way, that the company [GSK] didn't do anything wrong"

You're an absolute legend Monsieur Garnier. Even when your company has been proved to have held back data because it would undermine the profile of the product, you still claim that your company has done nothing wrong!

I have to admit I roared with laughter when I heard Garnier claim his company had been vindicated by the MHRA.

I practically pissed myself laughing when he walked out of the studio when the questioning about Seroxat got too tough for him. At least Glaxo spokesperson, Alistair Benbow, keeps his cool with deluded answers he may or may not have gave in the past!

The point where Garnier threw his dummy out of the pram is better than an episode of Monty Python.

Reporter: On the trials that were done in the 1990's, it's clear that it was on 2003 that the MHRA were shown an analysis of the trials. Have they now seen and can everyone now see that which was withheld in those years and can you say (and I know you are moving on, there is going to be a new head of the company) that in future such information will be available to the those who have to take really quite important decisions about what should be available to the public and what shouldn't?

Garnier: Well, I can't answer such a vague question. I mean this case has been discussed and studied at lengths by the authorities. They are satisfied with their enquiry, their enquiry had a positive conclusion for the company [GSK] ...ERR I think you know you cannot talk about things that complicated in two minutes on an interview but as far as the desire to be transparent, I think our record speaks for itself.

Reporter: So, can you say John Paul Garnier...

Garnier: It's not Jean Paul... it Jean Pierre

Reporter: Sorry. Jean Pierre...

Garnier: Can we move on, I... I have to..

Reporter: This is the last question...

Garnier: I have to tell you that if we are going to talk about [muted laugh] this subject [Seroxat] for ever and ever....

Reporter: No, it's one last question. John Pierre Garnier, let me ask you simply this. When you leave the company do you believe that you are going to leave the company behind you which will.... er let's put it like this, be honest, so that that information which is released, which is asked for that bears....

Garnier: Okay, I'm not interested in answering this question ,we have dealt with this subject. Thank you very much for taking the time to hear about pandemic and I wish you the best. Goodbye.

Reporter: And you. Goodbye.

It's pure comedy genius isn't it?

Here we have the CEO of a pharmaceutical company who firstly denies that his company did anything wrong, then secondly claims that his company's record in their desire to be transparent (and I quote) "speaks for itself"

I guess it probably does because you certainly don't Jean Paul (Ahem) sorry Pierre.

Posted by: truthman30 at May 19, 2008 02:33 PM

Edited moments now online:

http://fiddaman.blogspot.com/2008/05/garniers-finest-hour-audio.html

Thanks to The Truthman for the conversion :)

Fid

Posted by: Fiddy at May 19, 2008 03:25 PM

Villanelle to Monty Burns

Away to Broadcasting House [BBC Radio's HQ]
With a Gitane on my lower lip
My name's not Paul, it's Pierre

They pry and probe
I am undeterred by the sense of adversity
J'ai reprise mon arme pour guerre

Seroxat: what's that?
We have dealt with that question to my satisfaction
My name's not Paul, it's Pierre

And who are you, Mr Naughtie?
I am not called Monty Burns for nothing [I have to pay a great deal of money for the privilege]
J'ai reprise mon arme pour guerre

My company is transparent
Much like me
My name's not Paul, it's Pierre

We have been found to have done nothing unlawful
Which means that we are honourable
J'ai reprise mon arme pour guerre

I turn a blind eye while whistleblowers are intimidated
And then lie about it
My name's not Paul, it's Pierre

So what if people suffer heart attacks unnecessarily?
I have been recognized as excellent by people more powerful than you
J'ai reprise mon arme pour guerre

Posted by: Matthew Holford at May 19, 2008 04:59 PM

It's amazing a person could still walk out at all after being in the hot seat like that.

What a loss of credibility and such an admittance of guilt; what? the attorneys must not have been at his side, or maybe they held up a cue card.Exit stage left, and shut up.

Posted by: Stephany at May 19, 2008 06:39 PM

Sorry, I forgot the last verse:

My name's not Paul, it's Pierre
I'm a lying, evasive piece of shit
J'ai reprise mon arme pour guerre

Posted by: Matthew Holford at May 20, 2008 04:18 AM

There are some great psych meds that will help him w/ his anger.

Posted by: Lisa at May 20, 2008 09:44 AM

The BBC lost all credibility when it became apparent that their SEROXAT STORIES were all placed by the media relation company GOODRELATIONS, who were employed by the antiGSK litigants

Sara xxx

Posted by: sara at May 20, 2008 02:20 PM

so sara xxx (sexy name btw), are you arguing that there was no substance to the bbc's coverage of seroxat/paxil? if so, you need to check your calendar, find an afternoon when you are free and go fuck yourself. seroxat=worst ssri ever!

Posted by: Harry Callahan at May 20, 2008 02:54 PM

Dear Harry Callahan at May 20, 2008 02:54 PM

What I said was " The BBC lost all credibility when it became apparent that their SEROXAT STORIES were all placed by the media relation company GOODRELATIONS "

I'm not aware that I made comment upon the the WORSTness of Seroxat or anyother SSRI.

Sara xxx

BTW one would have hoped that since the BBC is a public service broadcaster, directly funded by the viewers, it would have atl east been objective & not the pet poodle of the antiGSK litigants

Posted by: sara at May 20, 2008 03:32 PM

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