Ralph Edwards : rare events : the inside story of a worldwide quest for safer medicines

Medical treatments designed to help people can also be harmful or fatal. Around 2.5 million people die this way each year. So if any kind of medicine makes someone unwell, they or their doctor should report it. Those reports, from nearly every country in the world, go to the Uppsala Monitoring Centre (UMC) in Sweden. As the Centre’s first director, Professor Ivor Ralph Edwards transformed it from a tiny operation with limited horizons into an internationally acclaimed scientific organization at the heart of the World Health Organization’s Programme for International Drug Monitoring. He was then succeeded by his wife, Dr Marie Lindquist. This is the story of how a new science developed and a passionate and dedicated pursuit of worldwide medicines safety, with an unerring focus on the welfare of patients. The pioneering work of Ralph, Marie and their collaborators on every continent protected the lives of millions of people. It may yet improve the lives of billions more. Foreword Acknowledgments A Worldwide Quest for Safer Medicines Introduction References Contents Part I The Science, the Director and the Centre 1 The Voyage to Medicines Safety Ralph Writes... On Departures References 2 A Unique Vision Ralph Writes... On Cultures References 3 Made in Sweden Ralph Writes... On Money References 4 Going Global Ralph Writes... On Patients References Part II A Man Changed by Medicine 5 ‘Just Do It, Ralph’ Ralph Writes... On Introversion Reference 6 Learning for Life Ralph Writes... on Religion References 7 Forged in the City of Steel Ralph Writes... On Learning References 8 Doctor Fixer Ralph Writes... On Responsibility Reference 9 A New Africa Ralph Writes... On Art References 10 The Whole World in Two Islands Ralph Writes... On Poisons References Part III Making Medicines Safer 11 Forging Ahead Ralph Writes... On Trust References 12 A Deep, Dark Mystery Ralph Writes... On Ethics References 13 The Problems with Drugs Ralph Writes... On Causality References 14 Science and Sharing Ralph Writes... On Uncertainty References 15 From Analogue to AI Ralph Writes... On Signals References 16 Pillars of Wisdom Ralph Writes... On Science References 17 Doctor WHO Ralph Writes... On Diplomacy References Part IV Continuing the Quest 18 Change at the Top Ralph Writes... On Leadership References 19 A Noble Cause Ralph Writes... On Dispositionality References 20 A Safer Future? Ralph and Marie Write... On Imagining Reference Part V Present Vision 21 Back to Africa Ralph Writes... On Development References 22 The View from Gothenburg References Glossary References Index