If you write a report based on anecdotal poorly evidenced data, you get conclusions that have no base in science and much of it will be ineffective . Prof Dave Lewis once called Francis, the government's safe pair of hands'. I guess he is but the rest of us observed this report with despair. http://news.sky.com/story/1425547/report-nhs-whistleblowers-considered-suicide The interesting aspect about this poor methodology is that many highly qualified senior whistleblowers complied with it instead of questioning it. I have seen emails where whistleblowers were coaxed by these senior Pied Pipers and everyone walked into this review to tell a story. It left the rest of us wondering, who was vetting the evidence for these stories. For all we know, they could have been fairy tales. What surprised me the most is this, the most senior consultant whistleblowers said nothing of the flaws of this review. Yet it was obvious to every doctor and scientist who read the methodology. We ask ourselves why all these seniors failed the public in this way. We ask ourselves why these seniors went along with the review. We ask ourselves why they went along with the review then now object because the conclusions were of no advantage to them. I think generally leaders in the whistleblowing forum have failed whistleblowers spectacularly. Instead of using the scientific minds that they were trained to use and standing up for what is right, they all became media stars telling the world of their sufferings instead of the system failures. Even this whistleblowing review deserved to be held to account. I refuse to accept that all whistleblowers are victims because I don't look at myself as one. I know many of my friends don't either. To paint us as inept, suicidal individuals is broadly unacceptable. Whistleblowers are tough people who survive against all odds. We aren't weak people nor do we deserve to be given the reputation of being helpless victims. I think Francis has done us all a disservice by painting us as a certain type of personality . I guess it makes it easier for him to gloss over the real issues, that of system failure, of organisational psychopathy and of failing management structures. In summary, the whistleblowers campaign has failed. It's probably due to poor leadership, wrong media coverage and the eagerness of many individuals who have joined with the establishment and have cornered the rest into a victim status instead of creating real challengers to the states machinery. The reality isn't pleasant. Nevertheless it's the reality of the situation now. Dr Rita Pal