YES!! Knighthood!

I'm writing just a short post today, mostly in reference to my most recent post. I provided you the link for the petition against Dr Wessely's proposed knighthood, should you wish to sign it, and explained why I find myself a little reluctant to do so.

Someone came up with a beautiful alternative. Well, they didn't intend it to be an alternative actually, they suggested both signing that petition, and ...  doing this:

Recommend someone else for knighthood.

As I understand it, when someone is proposed for a knighthood, they are compared with others in the same field who have also been nominated. I could be completely wrong in that, so don't quote me on it, but I think that is what I have read somewhere.

My immediate reaction was to suggest the wonderful journalist, Sonia Poulton, for her hard work writing about M.E., describing it's difficulties so perfectly within the public eye. She's become patron of the Cheltenham "Fibro, ME/CFS Babes & Guys!" group you know! I would also personally include her awesome work raising awareness of how screwed up the benefits system is. You can read some of her work:
here

here

here

and here

BUT, I have a sneaky suspicion that because Sonia Poulton is a journalist, she would not be considered comparable to The Weasel. In fact, she's raising awareness of how treacherous M.E. is, when he is (supposedly) performing research (and downplaying how serious it is). Plus, it is not just M.E. alone that he is being considered upon.

Someone else has suggested recommending Professor Hooper for knighthood instead. I felt a little embarrassed that I had never before heard of Hooper, so I did a little research. A few clicks later I had found that he has worked on M.E. (CFS) and Gulf War Syndrome amongst other conditions; so he is directly comparable to The Weasel. He is the Medical Advisor to the Grace Charity for M.E.; I would be very surprised if any M.E. organisation is associated with Wessely (unless it is one that he has created). Hooper has also stood in direct opposition to Wessely on his stance towards M.E./CFS, which of course will make him a very attractive alternative to many. I did also find, however, that there has been a review into him, and that there are also people who dislike him as strongly as I and many others dislike Dr Weasel. Personally, I don't feel that I have found out enough about him to recommend him for knighthood myself. But I would certainly say 'yes' he's a good alternative to ... you know who ... and that if you wish to recommend someone to be in direct opposition, then Professor Hooper is probably the right person for the job.

I, myself, think I will stick to recommending a certain journalist. I have a feeling she might turn down the post if she was offered it. That, however, would be as worth seeing, as seeing her receive it!

So, how do we go about recommending someone for a Knighthood? It's actually very simple.

Download the form from here.

There is a choice of format in which you can download the form. I would suggest PDF, as most computers have a PDF reader. You then print the form out, fill it in, and post it off to the address on the website. Couldn't be simpler, could it? Well yes, since the form is rather long and complicated. 

... and sitting on my desk still waiting to be filled in.

No Knighthood!

Strip Professor Wessely of his Knighthood!

"We the undersigned wish to make it known that we believe the award of a knighthood to the internationally maverick and outspoken psychiatrist Simon Wessely, whose views on several serious illnesses are seen to be patently wrong, and are widely abhorred by the experienced patients he purports to want to help, brings the whole honours system into disrepute, and should be withdrawn before the progress of real science, makes finally clear to all, the folly of his particular and peculiar sickness beliefs."

I have mixed feelings on this petition. I've not signed it, and I'm not going to.

I do not like Simon Wessely anymore than the next person with M.E.. I do not like his views, I don't like his trials, I don't like the way in which he's manipulated the medias view on our illness, and I do not like the way in which he's labelled himself as a victim because he's been criticised. Every scientist receives criticism; I've never heard of any of them claiming victimisation because of it though. Wessely is a nasty piece of work whose first priority is his reputation, and second priority is protecting his research. His patients don't even factor.

So when I see that he is nominated for a knighthood I am not happy. Not impressed. It shouldn't have happened. As it happens I actually like our Queen. She gives off good vibes. It's not her fault that she was born into monarchy. I certainly don't support the abolition of the monarchy. I feel very sorry for her that she has to be in the same room with The Weasel though. I would like to think that there was some chance of her doing the research behind knighthoods, but in reality someone else will do that. No doubt it Simon minions who nominated him. It certainly wouldn't have been any legitimate M.E. doctor, or an M.E. patient.

But I can't make myself sign it. Professor Wessley has gone out of his way to label people with M.E. as being crazy. He hasn't merely claimed that M.E. is a mental illness, but because people object they are crazy. He's over-exaggerated the number of people who complain, and the manner in which they complain. He overplays his hand. He knows he has more power than any of us will ever have. It must be fun to kick people when they're down.

I do not want my name associated with this petition. I don't want to be among those he sees as victimising him. I don't wish to give him that pleasure. He doesn't know me from Adam of course.

The fact that the petition is worded badly is besides the point. I could pick it apart easily, making it clear why it would never get anywhere, legally, but that isn't my point, unusually. The point is that the truth will out eventually. Wessely will be seen, by history, as a very nasty man. He'll be seen as someone who deliberately prevented very sick people from being treated. With any luck biomedical research will show this within our lifetimes, and have him called up on it. But again, not my point.

My point? What is a knighthood? These days it doesn't actually mean anything. It's an ego boost for him. It will mark him in history. And because of who he is, he will be remembered as being a creep. That isn't what he has aimed for, obviously, so by being knighted I feel he's stabbing himself in the foot really.