What a horrendous list of failures! Well, no matter - it got him a gong.
For me, this will always be one of the worst accusations to be levelled at him: "Aiding and abetting the construction of a fear narrative". Interestingly, Johnson in his book claimed he'd done all he did 'because people were afraid'. Yeah right - his own CMO fuelled the fear porn.
Looking on the bright side: we plebeians, ignorant and uncouth as we are, seem to have acquired excellent immunity to fear porn. Thanks, PM and CMO and MSM!
Do CMO s become a little unhinged after a short time in the job, not unlike some headteachers ? One of Dame Sally's very vocal rants was that NHS staff, particularly aimed at frontline, were selfish for their refusal to have annual "flu jabs". She seemed to have forgotten you are supposed to question the evidence not just follow blindly. Sir Chris always looked bemused to me.
She also forgot the idea of informed consent, primum non nocere and the illegality of coercing or offering inducements to someone to have a vaccine or any medical intervention whatsoever against their will.
According to Boris's book "unleashed", at least according to the Guardian, Prof Chris Whitty warned - rightly - at the outset of the pandemic that the public would expect the government to act, to make rules and to enforce them. Had COVID-19 been anything like the Black Death I might have agreed with this sentiment but, in fact, it was not only out of all proportion but had all the hallmarks of a tyrant who did not care a whit about the harms he was causing.
Excellent piece and so true. The fear mongering was over the top meanwhile Dr. Jay Varma covid czar in NYC was having sex parties, Gavin Newson governor of California going to dinner parties as well as ex prime minister Boris Johnson. Why weren’t they terrified like we were?
Well, what a list of mischievements for Sir Chris to ponder upon…. As to the concrete boots I’m afraid once awarded they are, like the MRNA vaccines yours for life. Unlike the eternal ascension of a Lordship - when you’ve striven so hard for the concrete boot award the only and mandatory way I am afraid, is descent- very rapidly. Do not be afeared or downhearted though because many of us are equipped with oxygen tanks, scuba PPE and hammer hand drills and if all fails, like cats you will land on your feet :-).
Sometimes professionals working in our civil service are set up to take the blame for others' decisions. Your indictment seems to be that he didn't resist the mistakes (masks, bubbles, 6' school closures, work from home etc.) and perhaps aided and abetted. But if he didn't come up with the COVID response, who did? I think there might be an interesting story here.
What a devastating list of failures. Any decent person would apologise to the citizens of England, resign from all positions that might affect the population and hand back his gong. Ideally he should also be tried for crimes against humanity and jailed for life.
Failure to listen to those who explained why people got very sick and died
Failure to read the existing literature that further explained this
Failure to immediately recommend the appropriate tests that confirm serious impending illness
Failure to immediately recommend the appropriate treatment for the seriously ill (or even those about to become seriously ill, as identified by the tests)
Alan Kennedy refers to foot and mouth disease in cattle. I had a South African patient, ex farmer there, who said if one of their cattle herd got F&M they stuffed a rag up its nose and then stuffed it up the noses of all the other cattle. They all got a tiny bit ill, then recovered and were immune. A bit like German Measles parties for kids in the 1960s. maybe someone will explain what's wrong with that strategy. Cheaper than mass extermination.
Sir Victor Carey,the Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 1940-45 presented the post war government with a problem. He had worked well with the German occupying forces and resistance had been punished. Should the government hang him as a traitor? No,they decided to knight him to avoid post war bitterness. Governments haven't changed.
Plenty of the list of failures overlap, so many more are possible.
Failure to understand how aerosol transmission works. eg "mask on please, to walk to your table Sir !"
Failure to call out the legion of absurdities eg supermarket arrows
Failure to allow me to decide if my daughter's wedding should proceed. (30 persons attended and Yes! I am bitter and unforgiving about this.)
Failure to allow grieving family to comfort each other at funerals. **. the absolute worst for me
And many many more.
Dame Hallett - read these blogs...please.
Prosecutions and real punishments for these massive acts of malfeasance and corrupt, cowardly and incompetent behaviour should follow if any justice is still a thing.
In ‘The BMJ Interview’ in 2020 (https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4235) the CMO was actually given opportunity to comment on a number of the points listed above.
eg On the 'Lack of apology for the social and economic butchery suffered by the people’, there would be no need to apologise if it was the virus responsible for the unavoidable butchery. This was the ‘fourth way’ he explained the virus was going to kill people and cause long term morbidity: 'The things we have to do to keep the virus under control have significant social and economic impacts.'.
On ‘Failure to stop or dissociate himself from politicians talking nonsense’, although he did think zero Covid was ‘impractical for a variety of reasons’, he did actually believe in flattening the sombrero (‘The concept of a circuit breaker is that you buy time; you wind back the clock from wherever you are by a few weeks, and that helps to slow down the rate of rise’).
On ‘Endorsing the use of vaccines the properties of which not even regulators understand’, the vaccines appeared to represent for him the clearest route out of the imposed restrictions (‘What we’ve got to do is get this virus down as low as is practical at any point in time, using the tools we’ve got, and expect that we will get medical countermeasure. It might come in the form of vaccines. It might come in the form of drugs, as happened with HIV, for example: we don’t have an HIV vaccine, but we’ve got very good control in the UK on that. There are other possible technical solutions’). He had ‘absolute belief in the ability of science to get us out of this hole’. So there was a lot riding on those vaccines.
Herd immunity, on the other hand, he said was ‘wrong scientifically, practically, and probably ethically as well’. He appears to have a different framework for understanding herd immunity than that explained by Sunetra Gupta, which I thought scientifically plausible and not something to be categorised in morality terms:
I’d be curious to know his views on how Africa got out of the Covid hole with only limited access to vaccines and without fancy drugs or other technical solutions. I'd also welcome his take on the results of the human challenge studies. It would have been a great thing to see him debate Sunetra Gupta face to face.
I do feel we were collectively let down by the bad behaviour of the medical and scientific community in stifling open discourse and smearing people with opposing views.
We all know, of course, why this man isn't in prison (and no, it's not because there isn't room). I'm pretty certain they made Hancock the patsy when they (and everyone on twitter over 48 hours) ensured he fell on his erm....pork sword. What we all should be aware of, is what the DHSC is trying to push through in northern Ireland because believe me, it makes the covid response look tame. Arrest, forced vaccination, state control of who you can associate with - it's truly terrifying. And we have "Longer, harder, sooner" Starmer in charge. I didn't realise that sounded like a porn star name until I typed it, but given the rumours I've heard about our Dear Leader....🤣😂
What a horrendous list of failures! Well, no matter - it got him a gong.
For me, this will always be one of the worst accusations to be levelled at him: "Aiding and abetting the construction of a fear narrative". Interestingly, Johnson in his book claimed he'd done all he did 'because people were afraid'. Yeah right - his own CMO fuelled the fear porn.
Looking on the bright side: we plebeians, ignorant and uncouth as we are, seem to have acquired excellent immunity to fear porn. Thanks, PM and CMO and MSM!
Do CMO s become a little unhinged after a short time in the job, not unlike some headteachers ? One of Dame Sally's very vocal rants was that NHS staff, particularly aimed at frontline, were selfish for their refusal to have annual "flu jabs". She seemed to have forgotten you are supposed to question the evidence not just follow blindly. Sir Chris always looked bemused to me.
She also forgot the idea of informed consent, primum non nocere and the illegality of coercing or offering inducements to someone to have a vaccine or any medical intervention whatsoever against their will.
Well, it depends. With foot and mouth disease, for example, you either "vaccinate-to-kill" or "vaccinate-to-live": https://www.aphis.usda.gov/media/document/2071/file
Not that I'm suggesting any kind of parallel: we're not cattle, after all.
According to Boris's book "unleashed", at least according to the Guardian, Prof Chris Whitty warned - rightly - at the outset of the pandemic that the public would expect the government to act, to make rules and to enforce them. Had COVID-19 been anything like the Black Death I might have agreed with this sentiment but, in fact, it was not only out of all proportion but had all the hallmarks of a tyrant who did not care a whit about the harms he was causing.
That's qiute a hatchet job.
But so very very true and sadly the same applies to, well, practically all the other "experts" trotting out the same mantra.
Can't wait to see you on the BBC again.
Perhaps try The Guardian as after all they are self proclaimed pioneers of fearless investigative journalism.
Re The Guardian John, the emphasis is on the ‘self-proclaimed’….
Excellent piece and so true. The fear mongering was over the top meanwhile Dr. Jay Varma covid czar in NYC was having sex parties, Gavin Newson governor of California going to dinner parties as well as ex prime minister Boris Johnson. Why weren’t they terrified like we were?
They knew there was nothing to be terrified of…..
I was just going to say the same.
I feel my blood pressure rising again…
Well, what a list of mischievements for Sir Chris to ponder upon…. As to the concrete boots I’m afraid once awarded they are, like the MRNA vaccines yours for life. Unlike the eternal ascension of a Lordship - when you’ve striven so hard for the concrete boot award the only and mandatory way I am afraid, is descent- very rapidly. Do not be afeared or downhearted though because many of us are equipped with oxygen tanks, scuba PPE and hammer hand drills and if all fails, like cats you will land on your feet :-).
Sometimes professionals working in our civil service are set up to take the blame for others' decisions. Your indictment seems to be that he didn't resist the mistakes (masks, bubbles, 6' school closures, work from home etc.) and perhaps aided and abetted. But if he didn't come up with the COVID response, who did? I think there might be an interesting story here.
What a devastating list of failures. Any decent person would apologise to the citizens of England, resign from all positions that might affect the population and hand back his gong. Ideally he should also be tried for crimes against humanity and jailed for life.
There's more...
Failure to listen to those who explained why people got very sick and died
Failure to read the existing literature that further explained this
Failure to immediately recommend the appropriate tests that confirm serious impending illness
Failure to immediately recommend the appropriate treatment for the seriously ill (or even those about to become seriously ill, as identified by the tests)
Alan Kennedy refers to foot and mouth disease in cattle. I had a South African patient, ex farmer there, who said if one of their cattle herd got F&M they stuffed a rag up its nose and then stuffed it up the noses of all the other cattle. They all got a tiny bit ill, then recovered and were immune. A bit like German Measles parties for kids in the 1960s. maybe someone will explain what's wrong with that strategy. Cheaper than mass extermination.
Sir Victor Carey,the Bailiff and Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey from 1940-45 presented the post war government with a problem. He had worked well with the German occupying forces and resistance had been punished. Should the government hang him as a traitor? No,they decided to knight him to avoid post war bitterness. Governments haven't changed.
He did write up his homework nicely
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/technical-report-on-the-covid-19-pandemic-in-the-uk
Plenty of the list of failures overlap, so many more are possible.
Failure to understand how aerosol transmission works. eg "mask on please, to walk to your table Sir !"
Failure to call out the legion of absurdities eg supermarket arrows
Failure to allow me to decide if my daughter's wedding should proceed. (30 persons attended and Yes! I am bitter and unforgiving about this.)
Failure to allow grieving family to comfort each other at funerals. **. the absolute worst for me
And many many more.
Dame Hallett - read these blogs...please.
Prosecutions and real punishments for these massive acts of malfeasance and corrupt, cowardly and incompetent behaviour should follow if any justice is still a thing.
Keep on Carl and Tom.!
In ‘The BMJ Interview’ in 2020 (https://www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4235) the CMO was actually given opportunity to comment on a number of the points listed above.
eg On the 'Lack of apology for the social and economic butchery suffered by the people’, there would be no need to apologise if it was the virus responsible for the unavoidable butchery. This was the ‘fourth way’ he explained the virus was going to kill people and cause long term morbidity: 'The things we have to do to keep the virus under control have significant social and economic impacts.'.
On ‘Failure to stop or dissociate himself from politicians talking nonsense’, although he did think zero Covid was ‘impractical for a variety of reasons’, he did actually believe in flattening the sombrero (‘The concept of a circuit breaker is that you buy time; you wind back the clock from wherever you are by a few weeks, and that helps to slow down the rate of rise’).
On ‘Endorsing the use of vaccines the properties of which not even regulators understand’, the vaccines appeared to represent for him the clearest route out of the imposed restrictions (‘What we’ve got to do is get this virus down as low as is practical at any point in time, using the tools we’ve got, and expect that we will get medical countermeasure. It might come in the form of vaccines. It might come in the form of drugs, as happened with HIV, for example: we don’t have an HIV vaccine, but we’ve got very good control in the UK on that. There are other possible technical solutions’). He had ‘absolute belief in the ability of science to get us out of this hole’. So there was a lot riding on those vaccines.
Herd immunity, on the other hand, he said was ‘wrong scientifically, practically, and probably ethically as well’. He appears to have a different framework for understanding herd immunity than that explained by Sunetra Gupta, which I thought scientifically plausible and not something to be categorised in morality terms:
https://collateralglobal.org/article/mini-lecture-herd-immunity/
https://collateralglobal.org/article/how-seasonality-affects-the-spread-of-a-new-virus/
I’d be curious to know his views on how Africa got out of the Covid hole with only limited access to vaccines and without fancy drugs or other technical solutions. I'd also welcome his take on the results of the human challenge studies. It would have been a great thing to see him debate Sunetra Gupta face to face.
I do feel we were collectively let down by the bad behaviour of the medical and scientific community in stifling open discourse and smearing people with opposing views.
We all know, of course, why this man isn't in prison (and no, it's not because there isn't room). I'm pretty certain they made Hancock the patsy when they (and everyone on twitter over 48 hours) ensured he fell on his erm....pork sword. What we all should be aware of, is what the DHSC is trying to push through in northern Ireland because believe me, it makes the covid response look tame. Arrest, forced vaccination, state control of who you can associate with - it's truly terrifying. And we have "Longer, harder, sooner" Starmer in charge. I didn't realise that sounded like a porn star name until I typed it, but given the rumours I've heard about our Dear Leader....🤣😂
so he did pretty good, huh? I hope Hyacinth reads your posts, to help inform her inquiry