Simon Spichak
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Simon Spichak
@spichaksimon.bsky.social
790 followers 550 following 430 posts
Neuroscience MSc
🦔 dad

Founded Resolvve Inc to make therapy affordable for students

Science, health and tech journalist published in Being Patient, NYT, The Guardian's Scientific Observer, The Sick Times, and The Daily Beast
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For my first story in @breachmedia.ca, I wanted to know what Canada was doing about a scathing UN disability report that criticized the disability benefit and the expansion of assisted suicide.

I'll be writing a longer thread soon.

breachmedia.ca/canada-sides...
February 11, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
mssinenomine.bsky.social
"Almost a year after the report’s release, there is no plan to substantially act on any of the UN’s recommendations. Government officials guessed right: mainstream news outlets have largely ignored the report’s criticisms of MAiD. " @spichaksimon.bsky.social

breachmedia.ca/canada-sides...
Canada sidesteps UN scrutiny over assisted dying ⋆ The Breach
Calls by disability advocates and the UN to halt an expansion of medically assisted death have gone largely unacknowledged by the federal government
breachmedia.ca
February 11, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
desmondcole.bsky.social
For nearly a year, the feds have been quiet about a scathing UN report on Canada's treatment of disabled people, including MAiD expansion and paltry financial supports

@spichaksimon.bsky.social presses the government for answers in our latest for @breachmedia.ca

breachmedia.ca/canada-sides...
Canada sidesteps UN scrutiny over assisted dying ⋆ The Breach
Calls by disability advocates and the UN to halt an expansion of medically assisted death have gone largely unacknowledged by the federal government
breachmedia.ca
February 11, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
thesicktimes.org
Pediatric research into #LongCOVID is several years behind that of adults. In 2026, RECOVER-TLC will launch a 1300-person pediatric trial testing low-dose naltrexone for fatigue. @spichaksimon.bsky.social examines that trial, and two other pediatric trials in progress. bit.ly/3Oosi9a
Collage graphic. The center of the image is a black and white photo of a child lying in bed receiving care from their mother. Behind that is a second photo showing a child’s hand, pens, and drawings, including one that appears to show two cartoonish version of pathogens. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Collage graphic. The center of the image is a black and white photo of a child lying in bed receiving care from their mother. Behind that is a second photo showing a child’s hand, pens, and drawings, including one that appears to show two cartoonish version of pathogens. By Simon Spichak Key points you should know: Millions of children with Long COVID face denial, gaslighting, and a lack of medical treatments and drug trials. In 2026, RECOVER-TLC will launch a 1300-person pediatric trial testing low-dose naltrexone for fatigue. Though patient advocates criticized some aspects of a draft protocol shared in late 2025, they were positive on the overall design. Another trial including children with Long COVID will test the drug larazotide, which helps tighten the gaps between gut cells, as a potential treatment. Key points you should know: Calgary, Canada–based researchers will include kids in a third trial testing taurine but haven’t yet published the protocol. Parents emphasize the need to make trials accessible, including implementing mandatory COVID-19 precautions to reduce risk of reinfection.
February 5, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
mileswgriffis.bsky.social
Despite Long COVID's toll on millions of children, there are only a handful of clinical trials that include them. @spichaksimon.bsky.social reported on three upcoming pediatric trials.

Co-published with @19thnews.org!

thesicktimes.org/2026/02/03/l...
Long COVID affects millions of children. The largest pediatric trial so far launches this year. - The Sick Times
One NIH study will test low-dose naltrexone, while other upcoming trials will test larozitide and taurine.
thesicktimes.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:18 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
betsyladyzhets.bsky.social
Today @thesicktimes.org: RECOVER-TLC is launching the biggest Long COVID pediatric trial so far. @spichaksimon.bsky.social examines that trial, and two other pediatric trials in progress. thesicktimes.org/2026/02/03/l...
Long COVID affects millions of children. The largest pediatric trial so far launches this year. - The Sick Times
One NIH study will test low-dose naltrexone, while other upcoming trials will test larozitide and taurine.
thesicktimes.org
February 3, 2026 at 7:07 PM
My latest for @thesicktimes.org covers RECOVER-TLC and two other pediatric Long COVID trials.
February 4, 2026 at 3:47 AM
If you're able to, please consider donating to @thesicktimes.org to keep supporting important journalism on COVID and Long COVID.

the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/

/end
Join | The Sick Times
The Sick Times is supported by people like you. Support The Sick Times today.
the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
And then I spent some time looking at clinical trials of exercise for Long COVID. Only one in five of the trials even mentioned post-exertional malaise in their trial registration and most neglected to measure it.

thesicktimes.org/2025/11/21/l...

4/🧵
Less than 20% of Long COVID trials involving exercise even mention post-exertional malaise - The Sick Times
An analysis by The Sick Times find that less than 15% of Long COVID clinical trials testing the benefits of exercise or cardiopulmonary rehabilitation measured post-exertional malaise, according to…
thesicktimes.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Public access records revealed that researchers who push the idea LC is psychological tried to influence guidelines and one of them monitored patient groups, writing that they are "run by someone with ME/CFS and according to a friend who joined to suss out for you folk, she says it is ‘dire.”

3/🧵
White text on blue background: Key points you should know: The McMaster GRADE Centre and Cochrane Canada developed more than 100 recommendations for Long COVID. However, experts say some of these guidelines could harm people with Long COVID. Some recommend controversial and scientifically unsupported therapies for the disease: exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy. These treatments mirror harmful and debunked recommendations for myalgic encephalomyelitis. They also contradict major guidelines. The majority of pediatric guideline developers came from the same children’s hospital that parents say has psychologized their children’s symptoms. And one committee member has an inconsistently disclosed conflict of interest. Professor emeritus Paul Garner attempted to influence the advisory committee, according to emails obtained through a public information access request. The organizations provided only one week for public comments on the recommendations. Many people with Long COVID stopped responding because they felt their voices were not being heard.
December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
I wrote about the Canadian #LongCOVID guidelines that experts & patient advocates called "concerning" & "contradictory." But that wasn't the most shocking thing I found.

thesicktimes.org/2025/07/08/e...

2/🧵
Experts call new Canadian Long COVID guidelines “contradictory” and “deeply concerning” - The Sick Times
Guidelines recommend exercise and therapy as treatments, following attempted influence from Paul Garner.
thesicktimes.org
December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
@thesicktimes.org is one of the only newsrooms dedicated to widescale coverage of #LongCOVID. They need our support in their end of year fundraiser.

Through their support, I published two major stories this year.

1/🧵

bsky.app/profile/thes...
The Sick Times (@thesicktimes.org)
We’re over halfway through our end-of-year fundraiser, and we’re not where we need to be to keep our vital work going. We have three weeks left to hit our goals of $60,000 and 200 monthly supporters.…
bsky.app
December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
thesicktimes.org
We’re over halfway through our end-of-year fundraiser, and we’re not where we need to be to keep our vital work going. We have three weeks left to hit our goals of $60,000 and 200 monthly supporters.

The #LongCOVID community needs us — we need you! the-sick-times.fundjournalism.org/donate/
Purple background with white text reads: New donations (followed by a thermometer reaching $60K). New monthly supporters (followed by a thermometer reaching 200). Text reads, "The Long COVID community needs us. We need you." Four testimonials from Sick Times readers in speech bubbles: “I desperately need the information you publish and can find it nowhere else.” “The Sick Times does essential work for the Long COVID community.” “You're indispensable and genuine. I trust your dedication to our community.” “I appreciate everything all of you do to keep publishing the truth in a world that cares little for it.”
December 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I emailed the CBC ombud a complaint about the Gill Deacon segment that platformed the Lightning Process and brain retraining quackery for Long COVID.

Here's their response: simonspichak.beehiiv.com/p/my-complai...
December 11, 2025 at 9:17 PM
My previous coverage of trials for kids: thesicktimes.org/2024/11/19/w...
Why are there almost no clinical trials for kids with Long COVID? - The Sick Times
Experts who spoke with The Sick Times brought up many different reasons why developing new drugs for children with Long COVID has moved at such a glacial pace. Many pharmaceutical companies might not ...
thesicktimes.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I'll be writing about #LongCOVID trials in kids for
@thesicktimes.org.

With the protocol for the LDN trial now available for public comment. I wanted to hear from parents and researchers about their thoughts on the protocol. DM me to get in touch.

recovercovid.org/news/recover...
RECOVER: Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery
The long-term effects of COVID are real. Join the NIH in the search for answers.
recovercovid.org
December 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
anhedoniaoakley.bsky.social
Here's the on point article about Inclusion Canada not doing their due diligence w/their benefits navigation services, and pointing disabled people towards shady 3rd party for-profit services just to access basics like the DTC & #CanadaDisabilityBenefit.
www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/ar...
1/6
Woman seeking Canada Disability Benefit frustrated after being sent to costly AI-integrated service
When Vancouver Island resident Iris Parker began applying for the Canada Disability Benefit, she didn’t expect to face steep up-front costs—particularly to have AI-integrated software fill out one of ...
www.ctvnews.ca
November 28, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Your daily dose of hedgehog
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Novo Nordisk's semaglutide fails to slow disease progression in two large Alzheimer's trials.

The latest in a series of drugs that appear promising from observational data that fail when put to the test in trials.

beingpatient.com/glp-1-diabet...
Blockbuster GLP-1 Diabetes and Weight Loss Drugs Fails in Alzheimer's Trial
Novo Nordisk, took a longshot gamble, and lost. Its GLP-1 drug semaglutide failed to treat Alzheimer’s in a trial that was halted.
beingpatient.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
thesicktimes.org
For up to half of people with #LongCOVID, activities like exercise can trigger post-exertional malaise (PEM). Yet Long COVID clinics around the world are offering exercise as treatment while dismissing its serious harms.

Read more from @spichaksimon.bsky.social: bit.ly/4aaDRJW
Artistic depiction of ME symptoms by a woman who has the disease, showing a woman slumped over with exhaustion in a river of blue and orange. The text reads, “The Sick Times. Less than 20% of Long COVID trials involving exercise even mention post-exertional malaise. By Simon Spichak.” "People who are performing these studies are extraordinarily ignorant, and their ignorance is dangerous." - Jaime Seltzer Scientific director of the advocacy group #MEAction
November 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
AI companies will continue exploiting the mental health crisis if we fail to meaningfully address it.

My piece up in @canadahealthwatch.ca

canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/11/22/i...
If we ignore Canada’s mental health crisis, AI companies will exploit…
Canada’s mental-health system increasingly pushes people toward AI “alternatives.”
canadahealthwatch.ca
November 22, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
canadahealthwatch.ca
If we ignore Canada’s mental health crisis, AI companies will exploit it canadahealthwatch.ca/2025/11/22/i... @spichaksimon.bsky.social
If we ignore Canada’s mental health crisis, AI companies will exploit…
Canada’s mental-health system increasingly pushes people toward AI “alternatives.”
canadahealthwatch.ca
November 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Reposted by Simon Spichak
exceedhergrasp1.bsky.social
The rationale behind these studies, Seltzer contests, is [that] “it presumes that the patient had never heard of exercise until a doctor told them [it] exists.”

Thanks to Simon Spichak for putting this idea into print. I've said multiple times in interviews that it's the strangest part... 🧵
November 21, 2025 at 3:56 PM
A few charts we created for this analysis.
A Sankey chart showing the 112 exercise trials. 21 measured PEM and only 4 excluded participants who experienced it. Bar plot showing the number of Long COVID exercise trials over time that mention PEM in the registration
November 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM
If you run a trial and don't properly measure the potential harm that comes out of it, can you really say its successful? And if the trials don't fit neatly into the mechanistic puzzle of the disease, what is the information we get out of it even telling us?
November 21, 2025 at 2:33 PM