Margaret McCartney

1 Sept 2025

VERY EXCITING launch of the CENTRE FOR EVIDENCE AND VALUES IN HEALTHCARE at the Uni of St Andrews first event 31st October with Sir David Haslam and Scotland's new patient safety commissioner Karen Titchener find out more here medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk/centreforevi... please sign up and come

1 May

open access, in the BMJ by me and @LarkinJames The NHS and industry partnerships: risky alliances bmj.com/content/393/bm…

bmj.combmj.com

Margaret McCartney reposted

Deb Cohen

@debscohen.bsky.social

19 Feb

A few years ago, Grail launched NHS trial of Galleri 50 cancer test, despite concerns from experts about its sensitivity as @mgtmccartney.bsky.social & I reported for @bmj.com & the BBC. Today investors were told main endpoint- a statistically significant drop in Stage III–IV cancers was not met

5 Mar

CMA investigation private dentistry following one on vets. thetimes.com/business/compa… Treating healthcare as a market doesn't work. From 2016: GP is going to do a dentist-still headed that way bmj.com/content/354/bm�� (medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk/centreftreforevide… opening for booking soon)

thetimes.comthetimes.com

10 Jan

where are all my friends

unherd.comHow increased prostate cancer screening can harm menDavid Cameron has joined the King as the latest public figure to disclose his diagnosis of prostate cancer. In an interview with the Times this week, the former British prime minister revealed that,…

10 Jan

Centre for Evidence and Values in Healthcare - 5th Feb in St Andrews. Screening can be confusing, numbers, ethics, communication....PSA, whole body scans, influencers telling you to get bloods for 'wellbeing'... low cost, non profit, no sponsorship medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk/centreforevi...

Margaret McCartney reposted

UnHerd

@unherd.com

25 Nov 2025

Prostate cancer, left alone, often does not affect male lifespans. We should be careful not to increase diagnosis rates without actually stopping men dying of the disease | Margaret McCartney

Margaret McCartney reposted

clare-turnbull.bsky.social

@clare-turnbull.bsky.social

4 Jan

"Media coverage and PATHFINDER2: hype, simplification, and free advertising". Commentary on new GRAIL Galleri study published in: @thelancetoncol.bsky.social thelancet.com/journals/lan... From @mgtmccartney.bsky.social @paulpharoah.bsky.social, Sullivan,Houlston,Aggarwal,Schuh,Hogarth,Callister

thelancet.comMedia coverage and PATHFINDER2: hype, simplification, and free advertisingThe recent media coverage of interim results from the PATHFINDER2 study of GRAIL's Galleri multicancer detection blood test exemplifies a troubling and recurring trend in science communication: the co...

Margaret McCartney reposted

The BMJ

@bmj.com

13 Nov 2025

The UK media is overstating the benefits of prostate specific antigen tests, which can result in risk without benefit. Men need fair information about screening for prostate cancer, writes @mgtmccartney.bsky.social www.bmj.com/content/391/...

events.st-andrews.ac.ukHealthcare: what is it for?Please join us online at the first event of the Centre for Evidence and Values in Healthcare. We are delighted to

3 Nov 2025

thanks so much @dnblane.bsky.social not just for this, but the support and all the incredible work you are doing.

David Blane @dnblane.bsky.social

@mgtmccartney.bsky.social launching the Centre for Evidence and Values in Healthcare @uniofstandrews.bsky.social - I’m expecting mighty oaks to grow from these acorns 🤞

Margaret McCartney reposted

Nick Hopkinson

@copddoc.bsky.social

2 Oct 2025

Healthcare: what is it for? Inaugural event of the Centre for Evidence and Values in Healthcare: Sir David Haslam. Fri Oct 31st: events.st-andrews.ac.uk/events/centr... @mgtmccartney.bsky.social

t.cohttps://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/15/9/e103058

1 Oct 2025

Free to access Delphi study on what would make it easier to make and understand declarations of interest. Thankyou to everyone who took part. Next is to build it…. t.co/igfJKeybX5

Margaret McCartney reposted

Adam Keiper

@adamkeiper.com

29 Sept 2025

"Here I am, this middle-aged black man, I'm in my best suit. I actually argued the case at the Supreme Court that we were trying to implement. I've got all these degrees and awards. And I'm still required to laugh at my own humiliation." Bryan Stevenson with @katiecouric.bsky.social

youtube.comThe Exhausting Reality of Being a Black Lawyer - Bryan Stevenson's TruthYouTube video by Katie Couric

medicine.st-andrews.ac.ukThe Centre for Evidence and Values[et_pb_section fb_built=1 disabled_on=off|off|off admin_label=Header Image and Nav Box _builder_version=4.27.4 _module_preset=default background_color=#FFFFFF background_image=https://medicine.st-andr...

26 Sept 2025

sign up sign up come along to our first event 31st october or add yourself to our mailing list for a streamed section of the day. it's going to be excellent. no sponsorship, independent, and amazing people are coming medicine.st-andrews.ac.uk/centreforevi...

Margaret McCartney@mgtmccartney.bsky.social

@jameslarkin13.bsky.social

25 Sept 2025

V excited with postal delivery

Margaret McCartney reposted

James Larkin

23 Sept 2025

🚨Publication🚨 Grateful to be part of this publication with @mgtmccartney.bsky.social and colleagues Take home: lots of hormone replace therapy social media claims don't align with best practice recommendations. And lots of the posters have conflicts of interest. Full study: tinyurl.com/2rxpfwnr

tinyurl.comDoes online information about hormone replacement therapy (or menopause hormone therapy) reflect indications from the British National Formulary and guidance from the National Institute for Health and...Objectives To describe: (1) the most visible information (from individuals or organisations) on UK social media regarding hormone replacement therapy (HRT)/menopause hormone treatment for menopause; (...

21 Sept 2025

hi @drlouisenewson.bsky.social . someone just sent me a link to a 'Perimenopause, menopause and mental health: a global survey' but the questions seem so biased that I am having difficulty believing that this is part of research project? has it ethics approval? thankyou.

bbc.co.ukBBC Radio 4 - The Drug Trial That Went WrongWhat lessons have been learned from a 2006 clinical trial at Northwick Park Hospital?

3 Sept 2025

20 years post TGN 1412, later , are drug trials safer? v pleased to be doing this for @BBCRadio4 www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

www.bmj.com/content/390/...

15 Aug 2025

bmj.comLifestyle medicine shouldn’t be a separate branch of medicineWhat is lifestyle medicine? It’s a massive hit on social media, where it seems to have captured the zeitgeist of a generation of doctors who are noticing, rightly, that many chronic health conditions ...

Margaret McCartney reposted

Greg Fell

@felly500.bsky.social

30 July 2025

Replying to @felly500.bsky.social

Good to see @mgtmccartney.bsky.social & @debscohen.bsky.social back out on tour

Margaret McCartney reposted

The BMJ

@bmj.com

1 Aug 2025

The UK’s flagship health research programme promises breakthroughs, but beneath an NHS branded facade, critics are asking who really benefits from the database, heavily backed by industry and government. @mgtmccartney.bsky.social and ‪@debscohen.bsky.social‬ investigate www.bmj.com/content/390/...

standrews.eu.qualtrics.comQualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience ManagementThe most powerful, simple and trusted way to gather experience data. Start your journey to experience management and try a free account today.

20 July 2025

ARE YOU A UK MEDICAL STUDENT OR DOCTOR? Please take part in this short survey about medical education in the UK. Thankyou! standrews.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

margaretmccartney.comRCGP council 21/6/25As ever, I can only report what I say, and I try not to repeat what others have. Council members have 2mins only to speak on subjects. I do have problems with this; it’s not a good quality co…

22 June 2025

notes on rcgp council yesterday margaretmccartney.com/2025/06/22/r...

thetimes.comWeight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy hold key to longer lifeResearch suggests weight loss drugs such as Wegovy could delay age-related illnesses and halve heart attack deaths, even in those who are not obese

Big claims in the @thetimes today on weight loss drugs and preventative impact. thetimes.com/uk/healthcar.... however;

so @wesstreeting can we not rethink: if you are taking advice, can you create systems which ensure that they are going to give us as independent advice as possible? see also: bmj.com/content/bmj/...

bmj.combmj.com

and @wesstreeting if you are not doing anything tonight, please feel free to come alonghttps://events.st-andrews.ac.uk/events/making-waves-lecture-series-dr-margaret-mccartney-dr-chris-van-tulleken/

Big claims in the @thetimes today on weight loss drugs and preventative impact. thetimes.com/uk/healthcar.... however;

they say

I think these drugs do have a role. But when, where, why, adverse effects, long term use - all raise serious questions. We need INDEPENDENT advice about these. I think our systems of obtaining advice should actively avoid incurring avoidable bias/

Big claims in the @thetimes today on weight loss drugs and preventative impact. thetimes.com/uk/healthcar.... however;

I can find one JD at Disclosure UK but not sure is the correct one (who declares novo funding). However this is from last years conference easo.org/semaglutide-...

JD also is listed on Teneo teneo.com/person/profe... who are a advisory type consultancy /

Big claims in the @thetimes today on weight loss drugs and preventative impact. thetimes.com/uk/healthcar.... however;

the press release did also state that "The study was funded by Novo Nordisk." a doctor quoted in it is "an advisor/consultant to Novo Nordisk." /

in the Times, Prof John Deanfield is quoted

Big claims in the @thetimes today on weight loss drugs and preventative impact. thetimes.com/uk/healthcar.... however;

this is unpublished data, as the press release did state. this means it's not peer reviewed and available for others to consider the strength of these findings. /

bmj.comSex and gender should not be conflated in medical dataThe target of any sex question should be sex Accurate data are essential to clinical care, research, and health service planning. But in some data sets, the NHS and the wider medical profession have ...

25 Apr 2025

free link, to me and Susan Bewley editorial in the @bmj.com www.bmj.com/content/389/...

16 Apr 2025

It really should not be necessary for a group of volunteer women - work run on donations and good will- to take the scot gov to court to point out their illogicality. Thankyou for all your hard work over many years. Congratulations @ForWomenScot

thetimes.comTim Spector: I took a dementia test – with surprising resultsWith a family history of the condition, the nutrition expert was keen to understand his own risk. Cutting edge tests revealed early warning signs, but not the ones he expected

12 Apr 2025

one of the key things to consider with screening is how the test results will affect advice to minimise health risks vs advice you would have been given anyway without these additional tests being done. so I will leave this here. www.thetimes.com/life-style/h...

@auralapothecary.pharmsky.app

9 Apr 2025

me in the BMJ, free access #parkrun #socialprescribing Prescribing parkrun: medicalising a walk in the park www.bmj.com/content/389/...

Margaret McCartney reposted

The Aural Apothecary

4 Apr 2025

🚨 New Episode! Skinny Jabs and Conflict of Interests with @mgtmccartney.bsky.social A vocal advocate for Evidence Based Medicine, newspaper columnist and contributor to BBC Radio 4’s Inside Health. An insightful and no-holds barred chat. Do not miss it!

theauralapothecary.com7.8 Dr Margaret McCartney - Conflicts of Interest and the Skinny JabsThis episode we are joined by Dr Margaret McCartney a practising General Practitioner and a Senior Clinical Lecturer in General Practice at the University of St And…

economist.comZOE, a British personal-nutrition app, is growing fastBut does it actually work?

3 Apr 2025

Met one of my long term heroes today. The amazing Angela Raffle

Margaret McCartney reposted

Deb Cohen

@debscohen.bsky.social

20 Mar 2025

My and @mgtmccartney.bsky.social critical look at Zoe for both Unherd and The BMJ has sure had legs.... Great to see our work being cited in today's Economist economist.com/britain/2025...

6 Mar 2025

Call me a Luddite but things to stop burnout should be based in evidence. If the job is so bad that people can’t do it- change the job, not the amount of yoga. Opportunity cost for covering for staff having sabbaticals to prevent burnout may be…burnout

14 Feb 2025

ARE YOU A UK MEDICAL STUDENT OR DOCTOR? Please take part in this short survey about medical education in the UK. Thankyou! standrews.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_...

publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5901/cm...

14 Feb 2025

publications.parliament.ukTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill (11th February 2025)

Margaret McCartney reposted

The BMJ

@bmj.com

5 Feb 2025

"Three things concern me about the structural way in which Leadbeater’s private member’s bill is being processed." Using a private member’s bill to legislate on assisted dying lacks the necessary preparation for an informed debate, writes @mgtmccartney.bsky.social www.bmj.com/content/388/...

4 Feb 2025

just saying

bmj.comUsing a private member’s bill to legislate on assisted dying lacks the necessary preparation for an informed debateHaving more pre-legislative stages would allow better quality debate Private members’ bills are introduced by individual members of parliament, rather than cabinet ministers or peers. One type of pri...

4 Feb 2025

assisted dying, the problem with private members bills, and the need for independent evidence www.bmj.com/content/388/...

Margaret McCartney reposted

salwalk.bsky.social

@salwalk.bsky.social

29 Jan 2025

Read Margaret’s evidence….it’s the best article I’ve read on this difficult subject, and I’ve been reading a lot. It moves away from the emotional and personal views and is so helpful.

Margaret McCartney@mgtmccartney.bsky.social

Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: call for evidence here's mine margaretmccartney.substack.com/p/terminally... www.parliament.uk/business/new...

parliament.ukTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: call for evidenceTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill: call for evidence

Margaret McCartney reposted

Nick Hopkinson

@copddoc.bsky.social

2 Feb 2025

Reminded that Living with Dying by @mgtmccartney.bsky.social is the best book about end of life that I have read. Get yourselves a copy. www.waterstones.com/book/living-... /n

waterstones.comLiving with Dying by Margaret McCartney | WaterstonesBuy Living with Dying by Margaret McCartney from Waterstones today! Click and Collect from your local Waterstones or get FREE UK delivery on orders over £25.