Libel Laws 'Restricting Open Discussion Of Drug Risks', UK

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Pharmacy / Pharmacist
Article Date: 27 Jan 2010 - 1:00 PDT

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Half of GPs believe the UK's libel laws are stifling debate about drug safety, according to a Pulse survey.

Asked if libel laws were 'restricting open discussion of the potential risks of drug treatment', 48% of GPs polled agreed and just 12% disagreed. The rest were undecided.

The survey, of almost 600 GPs, was conducted on Pulse's website - http://wwww.pulsetoday.co.uk - as part of a much larger assessment of GP opinion in the run-up to the general election.

It follows recent controversy over libel action against Dr Simon Singh by the British Chiropractic Association, and the case of Danish radiologist Dr Henrik Thomsen, who was reportedly threatened with libel action in the UK for criticising a commonly used drug.

Dr Bill Beeby, chair of the GP clinical and prescribing sub-committee of the BMA, said the UK's libel laws seemed unfair: 'Large organisations may use their resources against someone who has just their house and car and stands no chance of being able to contest it.

'I have always viewed reasonable opinion and criticism as an essential part of medicine and safety of medicine. But if you are speaking at conferences and expressing opinions, you need to have substantial back-up for what you say.'

One GP told our survey: 'The risk is that serious scientific debate is suffocated. If people do not openly challenge statements in a public forum, then bad science wins.'

Another GP said he was aware of one case where an outspoken GP was threatened with libel action by a PCT, even though as a public body it cannot sue.

Richard Hoey, editor of Pulse, said: 'It's hard to think of a stronger case for public interest than when the potential safety risks of a drug are at issue, and yet there is evidence that doctors are becoming increasingly nervous about discussing their concerns in public.

'The chance of actually being sued is still small, but high-profile libel cases have created a very real fear of legal action. The risk is that doctors, scientists and journalists will self-censor themselves, and avoid openly talking about their safety concerns.'

Source
Pulse

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