Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Letters Numbers needed to treat for statins

Statins: numbers needed to treat and personal decision making

BMJ 2014; 349 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g4980 (Published 05 August 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;349:g4980

Rapid Response:

These are philosophical differences and I still side with the eminent authors of JBS3 and my other reference, which are in no way refuted by the various responses.

But it was not me who made "false charges and ad hominem attacks." Dr Lewis said "his stealth provides a Trojan Horse for drug company profiteering." "Stealth" means acting covertly, and "a Trojan Horse" is to use trickery or deceit. But I guess a level of personal abuse is the price you pay for sticking your head above the parapet on any matter at all.

Competing interests: No competing interests

20 August 2014
Richard Watson
General Practitioner
11 Craigallian Avenue, Glasgow, G72 8DQ