Comments on: ABC finally concedes that Catalyst was biased

By: Alexander Cranford

Alexander Cranford — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 02:41:45 +0000

I read the report .There were many complaints from industry for parts one and two. The report found no breaches of editorial standards in part one and breach of editorial standards for part two.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 19 May 2014 03:37:46 +0000

Hi Bill,

The details in the ABC’s independent A&CA report vindicates the reasons why Catalyst presented such important information about cholesterol & statins in the Heart of the Matter episodes.

You might recall that in the Catalyst Part 2 episode on statins, the withholding of clinical trial data by pharmaceutical companies was thoughtfully highlighted. Looking at the ABC’s A&CA report, pages 30-32 deserve special consideration, especially in the context of some revealing details recently presented to the U.K ‘House of Commons- Committee of Public Accounts’ regarding access to clinical trial information. It’s valuable reading & a link to the House of Commons report is below.

Report – Access to Clinical Trial Information;
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmpubacc/295/295.pdf

In regard to the Heart Foundation of Australia, the recent statement on their website about the ABC’s investigation says that it welcomes the findings from the ABC’s Independent Audience and Consumer Affairs Unit (A&CA). I understand that the Heart Foundation is supportive of the report in its entirety, inclusive of the details involving cholesterol that are described on pages 20-27 in the A&CA report.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 15 May 2014 09:04:16 +0000

I find this whole issue interesting. My experience as a woman in my 40s with slightly elevated cholesterol and a family history of heart disease is to have one doctor tell me I was ‘very foolish’ because I refused to take a statin and have 2 doctors recommend that I don’t take them. It seems to me that the tide has turned and many physicians and some dieticians are now acknowledging that the last few decades have been characterised by poor nutritional advice. I’m going to keep enjoying my diet which is high in vegetables, high in natural fats (butter, coconut oil, animals fats, olive oil), moderate in protein and low in sugary foods and grains because it is serving me well. Oh and my doctor approves!

By: Peta Adams

Peta Adams — Tue, 13 May 2014 20:04:21 +0000

This is a very challenging time for dietitians and I am not sure how to move forward. The difficult point for most of the clients I see and I think Bill you have brought this up before is the health messages we want to get across go beyond basic knowledge for most people
Ie. that inflammatory processes are a significant part of the heart disease/insulin resistance story and that many refined carbohydrates are the one of the major culprit in this.
However most people struggle to decipher between refined starches and it is often easier to attack a whol nutrient ie sugar or food group (eg. Grains).
When I read on front page of the daily telegraph that 1 Pete Evans (chef not dietitian), suggests the only move forward is with activated almonds and paleo dieting, I shudder to think, what next?
My thoughts.

By: Bill Shrapnel

Bill Shrapnel — Tue, 13 May 2014 03:01:57 +0000

Jayne, I suspect you may get your wish. Regards, Bill

By: Bill Shrapnel

Bill Shrapnel — Tue, 13 May 2014 03:01:03 +0000

Hi Gabrielle. I understand that when Catalyst comes back on air that they will mention the offending programs and their removal from the website. I also note that the Managing Director of the ABC has said that these topics may be revisited. This may be code for ‘do it again and do it properly this time’.

I can understand how a tabloid 6.30 pm ‘current affairs’ program could run stories like these – that’s what they do. But people expect more from the ABC and much more from a science program on the ABC. Catalyst’s good reputation was surely one reason why the program received such good ratings, but that reputation has been squandered now.

It’s a difficult time for dietitians/nutritionists – outrageous claims about nutrition and health are everywhere. We need to be resolute. Regards, Bill

By: Bill Shrapnel

Bill Shrapnel — Tue, 13 May 2014 02:24:56 +0000

Too true Paul. Only publicity around the recent events will help get the message out. Hence this post! Regards, Bill

By: Paul

Paul — Tue, 13 May 2014 02:11:20 +0000

If it was for ratings – then the ABC achieved their purpose.

It was the most watched TV show in its timeslot when it aired. This rarely happens for the ABC. How many of the million or so viewers will notice that the program has been pulled from the ABC website?

By: Gabrielle Maston

Gabrielle Maston — Tue, 13 May 2014 02:00:10 +0000

This whole thing angers me so much. I work in a telephonic support service as a dual dietitian, exercise physiologist health coach. I can’t tell you the number of patients I have talked to since that program aired, after watching the ABC program took themselves off Statins. Keep in mind the 30,000 people on the program I work on are frequent flyers into hospital. Being admitted at least 1-2x a year on average, obese and multiple chronic illnesses. They already have a poor knowledge base on how to care for themselves, and after seeing these types of programs get it even more wrong!

The problem is with these written internet based apologies, is the public does not hear about them and patients continue to run with this misleading advise and risking their health.

The fact that, no doubt some where along the food chain some one made money out of this some how, or the ABC were doing it for ratings?- is appalling. This type of stuff can kill people!

Yet journalists keep writing books about sugar being toxic and curing lupus?, doing media stories on diet based topics they have limited knowledge on, putting peoples lives at risk. These people should be held accountable and made to do live TV apologies so that the average punter can see.

The only thing we can keep doing at the moment is keep defending our stance with nutrition messages, and hope the non- sense just eventually goes away.

By: Jayne Darvall

Jayne Darvall — Mon, 12 May 2014 22:52:37 +0000

Great news about the findings of the review by ABC, however I think the only way to undo what has been done is to redo it. That is the same journalist, should probably do a remake of the program including interviews with reputable professionals and researchers to show the other side of the story. The findings of a review are of interest to us as professionals but the damage is done and this type of message will only reach the person sitting at home watching the TV for their health education if it is re-made and re-aired.