The Sharing of Patient Data
David Cameron is getting a lot of criticism about his plans to anonymously share patient data with private companies.
As someone, who has lost two close relatives to difficult cancers and suffered a serious stroke, I can’t see what the problem is about, if the patients personal details are kept confidential.
I was once told by a senior research manager of a big German pharmaceutical company, that only about fifteen percent of medical databases have been analysed to any great extent. He felt that it would take an increasing part of medical research.
My son was part of a major trial being coordinated by a renowned British University. I was invited to see their work and was totally impressed at the care they were taking to make sure the data was correct and properly safeguarded. They were also looking for patterns in the data, as any clue, however small, might be invaluable in the fight against disease.
One thing that has to be said, is that if you are looking at any database for patterns, then that database must be complete, with no errors in the data. I have come across researchers, who when they are trying to prove something in a field like archaeology, first clean the data of anything that doesn’t fit their theories.
That is the biggest problem in research.
Cheap Booze at Asda
There were reports yesterday that Asda are now selling Budweiser at fifty pence a bottle.
No wonder many peoples’idea of a good time is to get bladdered.
It means I have another reason not to shop at Asda.
In my view, there should e a minimum price for a unit of alcohol. I doubt it would affect me at all, so perhaps I’m being selfish. But on the other hand, I don’t want the psrtners, parents and friends of heavy drinkers, to go through all the heartache of the death of a loved one I’ve been through. And my wife was only a very moderate drinker and my son didn’t drink!
Rihanna Smokes on Album Cover
I wouldn’t know who Rhanna is! But I certainly don’t want to kow, as she is seen smoking on her new album cover.
What a bad example!
My only satisfaction, is that she is more likely to get the cancer than I am.
Prostate Cancer Drug Trial Stopped Early
The headline was the bad news. But it was stopped because it would have been unethical to continue according to this report from the BBC, as the tests were so succssful.
So it was really good news!
Do 50% Tax Rates Work?
I don’t think so, except for financial advisors and accountants.
When the rate gets too high, people see an increasing amount of their money going in taxes and do something about it.
I remember, an accountant once told me of a client, who asked him to cut the amount he paid in tax. The client by the way had a small but successful manufacturing company. He told the client to leave some of the money he didn’t need in the business and invest it to make the business grow. The tax bill went down, but the wealth of the client’s company grew. I just looked it up on the Internet and its even bigger. Sadly the accountant carried on smoking like a chimney and died of lung cancer.
So I’m in favour of reducing the tax rate and removing the loopholes. This incidentally, is what Mrs. Thatcher did and the tax take rose. It also made a lot of accountants and financial advisors unemployed.
You could argue that we need a very simple tax system, that everybody on the Dalston Omnibus could understand.
But no government would ever do this, as they’d have to deal with large numbers of irate civil servants.
92 Clubs By Public Transport Alphabetically in a Calendar Month – It Could Be Worse
I have just realised that my trip could be worse. At some time in my lifetime, the following clubs have been among the 92 clubs in the Football League.
- Barrow
- Boston United
- Darlington
- Gateshead
- Grimsby Town
- Lincoln
- Newport
- Scarborough
- Workington Town
- Wrexham
- York
This isn’t a complete list but the others are easy.
92 Clubs By Public Transport Alphabetically in a Calendar Month – Day 29
Hopefully this will be the last day. And there is a match at Yeovil.
92 Clubs By Public Transport Alphabetically in a Calendar Month – Day 28
Back to Home Page Day 27 Day 29
This is another up and down sort of day with access to the grounds easy and others not from the station. I will intend to do Wigan, AFC Wimbledon, Wolverhampton and Wycombe.
92 Clubs By Public Transport Alphabetically in a Calendar Month – Day 27
Back to Home Page Day 26 Day 28
This is an up and down sort of day with access to the grounds easy from the station. I will intend to do Tranmere, Walsall, Watford, West Bromwich and West Ham.
92 Clubs By Public Transport Alphabetically in a Calendar Month – Day 26
Back to Home Page Day 25 Day 27
Another difficult and a very expensive day. Assuming, I stay overnight at Swansea, hopefully I could do Swindon, Torquay and Tottenham.
The Anonymous Widower 