Stop the Saatchi Bill

Driven by an extraordinary two-year PR campaign on social media and a supportive newspaper partner, this all started as Lord Saatchi’s Medical Innovation Bill, metamorphosed through several versions, and was resurrected under a new name by Chris Heaton-Harris, before finally clearing its last hurdle in the Lords this week to become the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Act. Pretty much the only thing they share is the word 'Innovation' in the title.

One day, it may be possible for politicians to ask the people who actually work in the medical field: what are the problems you face, and how can we help you overcome them?

One day, politicians may actually listen to the answers they receive, and thus try to tackle genuine problems rather than imagined ones.

One day, politicians, medics, researchers, lawyers, patient groups, charities, and the public, may work together to overcome the barriers to the development and provision of new treatments.

But it is not this day.

Read more: Not this day

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Current Medical Innovation Bill and amendments

The Medical Innovation Bill has already gone through several incarnations, so it may be useful to clarify the text of the Bill before Parliament and to list the current amendments that have been tabled. {tabulizer:include style[rs_lvfa6t1s.css] datatable[YToxOntzOjQ6InNvcnQiO2E6NTp7czo3OiJlbmFibGVkIjtiOjE7czo3OiJvcmRlcmJ5IjthOjI6e3M6MjoiaWQiO2k6MTtzOjk6ImRpcmVjdGlvbiI7czozOiJhc2MiO31zOjEwOiJoZWFkZXJfdG9wIjtzOjQ6ImF1dG8iO3M6MTE6ImV4Y2x1ZGVfc3RyIjtzOjE6IjIiO3M6NzoiZXhjbHVkZSI7YToxOntpOjA7aToxO319fQ==] id[tab_GOlwWU75kt]} Document Date Medical Innovation Bill (HL Bill 4) as introduced (pdf version) 06/06/2014 Explanatory Notes Bill 004-EN 2014-15 (pdf version) 06/06/2014  Amendments {tabulizer:include style[rs_lvfa6t1s.css]…

Lord Saatchi Compares Doctors to Medieval, Barbaric Hanging Judges

Re-blogged with permission from Lord Saatchi Compares Doctors to Medieval, Barbaric Hanging Judges by Andy Lewis The Second Reading of the dreadfully misconceived and dangerous Medical Innovation Bill took place in the House of Lord’s last Friday. Condemned as a Quack’s Charter for attempting to remove legal protections from patients against maverick, quack and incompetent practice, the team supporting the Bill…

Damning report by Sir Robert Francis QC

In his damning report on the Medical Innovation Bill, Sir Robert Francis QC, with the support of Professor Sir Ian Kennedy QC, concludes: This Bill is, like its two or three predecessors, based on the fundamental misapprehension that the law of negligence inhibits genuine and responsible innovative treatment. Not only that, but for all its good intentions, it is actually dangerous for patients because it…

Selling the Sizzle

Re-blogged with permission from Selling the Sizzle by David Hills (@WanderinTeacake). How the Saatchi Bill campaign undermined its own public consultation To you and me, the purpose of a consultation is to consult – to seek advice and guidance from interested parties, and to use that advice to shape your plans. This is not how the people behind the Medical…