{"id":935,"date":"2009-06-03T23:01:00","date_gmt":"2009-06-03T23:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/wpblog\/2009\/06\/simon-singh-to-appeal-bogus-decision.html"},"modified":"2009-06-03T23:01:00","modified_gmt":"2009-06-03T23:01:00","slug":"simon-singh-to-appeal-bogus-decision","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/2009\/06\/simon-singh-to-appeal-bogus-decision.html","title":{"rendered":"Simon Singh to Appeal Bogus Decision"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"free<\/a> <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThe law has no place in scientific disputes\u201d<\/h2>\n

Simon Singh is to appeal the absurd and astonishingly illiberal ruling<\/a> made by Sir David Eady in the libel case<\/a> brought about by the British Chiropractic Association. This is a brave decision by Simon, but an important one as there are issues at stake<\/a> that go well beyond one case. <\/p>\n

Today, the charity Sense about Science<\/a> is launching a campaign to highlight the issues raised by the Simon Singh libel case. I am very please to support this campaign and be one of the first signatories to the following statement:<\/p>\n

\n

We the undersigned believe that it is inappropriate to use the English libel laws to silence critical discussion of medical practice and scientific evidence.<\/p>\n

The British Chiropractic Association has sued Simon Singh for libel. The scientific community would have preferred that it had defended its position about chiropractic for various children’s ailments through an open discussion of the peer reviewed medical literature or through debate in the mainstream media.<\/p>\n

Singh holds that chiropractic treatments for asthma, ear infections and other infant conditions are not evidence-based. Where medical claims to cure or treat do not appear to be supported by evidence, we should be able to criticise assertions robustly and the public should have access to these views.<\/p>\n

English libel law, though, can serve to punish this kind of scrutiny and can severely curtail the right to free speech on a matter of public interest. It is already widely recognised that the law is weighted heavily against writers: among other things, the costs are so high that few defendants can afford to make their case. The ease and success of bringing cases under the English law, including against overseas writers, has led to London being viewed as the \u201clibel capital\u201d of the world.<\/p>\n

Freedom to criticise and question in strong terms and without malice is the cornerstone of scientific argument and debate, whether in peer-reviewed journals, on websites or in newspapers, which have a right of reply for complainants. However, the libel laws and cases such as BCA v Singh have a chilling effect, which deters scientists, journalists and science writers from engaging in important disputes about the evidential base supporting products and practices. The libel laws discourage argument and debate and merely encourage the use of the courts to silence critics.<\/p>\n

The English law of libel has no place in scientific disputes about evidence; the BCA should discuss the evidence. Moreover, the BCA v Singh case shows a wider problem: we urgently need a full review of the way that English libel law affects discussions about scientific and medical evidence.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Please visit the campaign web site at http:\/\/www.senseaboutscience.org.uk\/freedebate<\/a> and give your own support. As you can see, there are one or two names on the list who are even more eminent and famous than me. Every one from the Poet Laureate to Harry Hill has signed. (I believe that Harry has suggested there is only one way to settle this<\/a> \u2013 FIGHT!)<\/p>\n

Sign the Support Statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Also, download the campaign button<\/a> and add it to your website.<\/p>\n

The Quackometer wishes Simon Singh all the best in his appeal. He may still yet lose. The legal shenanigans involved are tough. What is quite clear though, in that appealing, the absurdity of the chiropractic position will be made public, and the injustice of the law brought to the full attention of the media. The BCA could still do the best thing and back down. At the very least they could publish the scientific evidence that they believe they have to support their position. Their silence on the matter of evidence is damning.<\/p>\n

Good luck and here\u2019s to greater public awareness of chiropractic absurdity and even a change in the law.<\/p>\n

******************************************************************************************************************<\/p>\n

What some people have said about this:<\/h2>\n

Stephen Fry, Broadcaster and Author:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cIt may seem like a small thing to some when claims are made without evidence, but there are those of us who take this kind of thing very seriously because we believe that repeatable evidence-based science is the very foundation of our civilisation. Freedom in politics, in thought and in speech followed the rise of empirical science which refused to take anything on trust, on faith, on hope or even on reason. The simplicity and purity of evidence is all that stands between us and the wildest kinds of tyranny, superstition and fraudulent nonsense. When a powerful organisation tries to silence a man of Simon Singh’s reputation then anyone who believes in science, fairness and the truth should rise in indignation. All we ask for is proof. Reasoned proof according to the established protocols of medicine and science everywhere. It is not science that is arrogant: science can be defined as \u2018humility before the facts\u2019 \u2014 it is those who refuse to submit to testing and make unsubstantiated claims that are arrogant. Arrogant and unjust.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Richard Dawkins, FRS, University of Oxford:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cThis splendid manifesto hits so many bullseyes, I feel like adding my signature to every line of it. The English libel laws are ridiculed as an international charter for litigious mountebanks, and the effects are especially pernicious where science is concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jonathan Heawood, Director, English PEN:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cYou know there’s something badly wrong with the libel law when a serious scientific writer is dragged through the courts for something he didn’t even mean to say! Simon Singh’s only mistake was not to distinguish clearly enough between ineffective and fraudulent treatments – both of which might equally be termed ‘bogus’. The real culprit here is the rich English language and the arcane law of libel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Professor Richard Wiseman, Professor of the Public Understanding of <\/b>Psychology<\/b><\/a>, <\/b>University of Hertfordshire<\/b><\/a>, and author:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cEngland’s strict libel laws can deter individuals from speaking out against bad science, even when they have strong evidence for their argument.  Simon’s campaign deserves the support of everyone who cares about fighting pseudoscience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diana Garnham, Chief Executive, The Science Council:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cDelivery of professional health care should be based on science, not libel laws.  It goes without saying that all professional health care scientists must be expected to base their professional practice on scientific methodology, encompassing both a rigorous evidence base and open peer review.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

******************************************************************************************************************* <\/p>\n

An Impressive List of Signatories:<\/h2>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Science<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Professor Jim Al-Khalili OBE<\/b> Professor of Physics and of Public Engagement in Science, University of Surrey<\/p>\n

Dr Sabine Bahn<\/b> Cambridge Centre for Neuropsychiatric Research, University of Cambridge<\/p>\n

Harriet Ball<\/b> Voice of Young Science network<\/p>\n

Professor Michael Baum MB FRCS ChM MD FRCR<\/b> Emeritus Professor of Surgery and Visiting Professor of Medical Humanities, University College London<\/p>\n

Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell FRS<\/b> University of Oxford and President, The Institute of Physics<\/p>\n

Willem Betz<\/b> Emeritus Professor, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Chair, SKEPP<\/p>\n

Susan Blackmore <\/b>Visiting Professor, School of Psychology, University of Plymouth<\/p>\n

Professor Colin Blakemore FRS<\/b> University of Oxford<\/p>\n

Sir Tom Blundell FRS<\/b> University of Cambridge and President, The Biochemical Society<\/p>\n

Jean Bricmont<\/b> Professor of Theoretical Physics, University of Louvain and Honorary President, Association Francaise pour l’Information Scientifique<\/p>\n

Tracey Brown<\/b> Managing Director, Sense About Science<\/p>\n

Professor David Colquhoun FRS<\/b> University College London<\/p>\n

Professor David Cope<\/b> <\/p>\n

Professor Brian Cox<\/b> University of Manchester<\/p>\n

Dr Tim Crayford MB BS MSc FFPH FRSA<\/b> Former President, Association of Directors of Public Health<\/p>\n

Professor Richard Dawkins FRS <\/b>University of Oxford<\/p>\n

Professor Edzard Ernst MD PhD FRCP FRCP (Edin)<\/b> Peninsula Medical School, Exeter University<\/p>\n

Professor Elizabeth Fisher FMedSci<\/b> Institute of Neurology, University College London <\/p>\n

Dr Ron Fraser<\/b> Chief Executive, The Society for General Microbiology<\/p>\n

Carlos Frenk <\/b>Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics, Durham University<\/p>\n

Diana Garnham <\/b>Chief Executive, The Science Council<\/p>\n

John Garrow MD PhD FRCP FRCP (Edin)<\/b> Emeritus Professor of Clinical Nutrition, University of London and Former Chairman, HealthWatch<\/p>\n

Professor David Gordon<\/b> President, Association of Medical Schools in Europe<\/p>\n

Professor Hugh Griffiths FREng <\/b>University College London and Chairman and on behalf of The Campaign for Science and Engineering in the UK<\/p>\n

Dr John Haigh<\/b> Former Reader in Mathematics, University of Sussex <\/p>\n

Professor Martin Humphries <\/b>University of Manchester and Chair, The Biochemical Society<\/p>\n

Sir Tim Hunt FRS<\/b> Cancer Research UK<\/p>\n

Roland Jackson <\/b>Chief Executive, The British Science Association<\/p>\n

Professor Steve Jones<\/b> University College London<\/p>\n

Dr Stephen Keevil <\/b>King\u2019s College London<\/p>\n

Professor Sir David King FRS<\/b> Former Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government and Director, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford<\/p>\n

Dr Chris Kirk <\/b>Chief Executive, The Biochemical Society <\/p>\n

Professor Sir Peter Lachmann FRS FMedSci<\/b> University of Cambridge and Founder President, Academy of Medical Sciences<\/p>\n

Jennifer Lardge <\/b>Voice of Young Science network <\/p>\n

Armand Leroi<\/b> Professor of Evolutionary Developmental Biology, Imperial College London<\/p>\n

Dr Robin Lovell-Badge FRS FMedSci<\/b> MRC National Institute for Medical Research<\/p>\n

Daniella Muallem<\/b> Voice of Young Science network<\/p>\n

Professor Dame Bridget Ogilvie FRS FMedSci<\/b> Former Director, Wellcome Trust<\/p>\n

Professor Clive Orchard <\/b>University of Bristol and President, The Physiological Society<\/p>\n

Professor Ole H Petersen CBE <\/b>University of Liverpool<\/p>\n

Lord Rees <\/b>Professor of Cosmology and Astrophysics, University of Cambridge <\/p>\n

Les Rose<\/b> Clinical Science Consultant<\/p>\n

Dame Nancy Rothwell FRS<\/b> MRC Research Professor and President, Biosciences Federation<\/p>\n

Alan Sokal<\/b> Professor of Physics, New York University and Professor of Mathematics, University College London<\/p>\n

Professor Beda Stadler<\/b> University of Bern, Switzerland<\/p>\n

Dr John Stevens DMS<\/b> President and on behalf of The Institute of Biomedical Science<\/p>\n

Professor Ian Stewart FRS<\/b> Mathematician and Science Writer<\/p>\n

Professor Raymond Tallis FMedSci<\/b> Emeritus Professor of Geriatric Medicine, University of Manchester<\/p>\n

Lord Taverne<\/b> Chair, Sense About Science<\/p>\n

Hazel Thornton<\/b> Independent Advocate for Quality in Research and Healthcare<\/p>\n

Sir Mark Walport<\/b> Director, The Wellcome Trust <\/p>\n

Professor Robin A Weiss FRS<\/b> University College London and President, The Society for General Microbiology<\/p>\n

Tom Wells<\/b> Voice of Young Science network<\/p>\n

Robin Wilson <\/b>Professor of Pure Mathematics, Open University<\/p>\n

Richard Wiseman <\/b>Professor of the Public Understanding of Psychology, University of Hertfordshire and Author<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Journalism and Publishing<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

David Aaronovitch<\/b> Columnist, The Times and Author<\/p>\n

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown <\/b>Journalist and Columnist<\/p>\n

Wendy Barnaby<\/b> Editor, People and Society<\/p>\n

Rosie Boycott <\/b>Former Editor, The Independent and Independent on Sunday<\/p>\n

Geoffrey Carr<\/b> Science Editor, The Economist<\/p>\n

Duncan Campbell<\/b> Journalist<\/p>\n

Dr Philip Campbell<\/b> Editor-in-Chief, Nature<\/p>\n

Sir Iain Chalmers<\/b> Editor, The James Lind Library<\/p>\n

Nick Cohen<\/b> Columnist, The Observer <\/p>\n

Clive Cookson <\/b>Science Editor, Financial Times <\/p>\n

Nick Davies<\/b> Journalist and Author of Flat Earth News<\/p>\n

Kendrick Frazier <\/b>Editor, Skeptical Inquirer<\/p>\n

Professor Christopher C French<\/b> Head, The Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit, Goldsmiths University and Editor, The Skeptic Magazine<\/p>\n

James Gleick <\/b>Science Writer and Journalist<\/p>\n

Dr Ben Goldacre <\/b>Writer, Broadcaster and Medical Doctor<\/p>\n

Nigel Hawkes <\/b>Director, Straight Statistics and Former Health Editor, The Times<\/p>\n

Mark Henderson<\/b> Science Editor, The Times<\/p>\n

Roger Highfield<\/b> Editor, New Scientist <\/p>\n

Dr Richard Horton FRS FMedSci<\/b> Editor, The Lancet<\/p>\n

Alok Jha<\/b> Science and Environment Correspondent, The Guardian<\/p>\n

Rohit Jaggi<\/b> Columnist, Financial Times<\/p>\n

Barry Karr <\/b>Skeptical Inquirer and Committee for Skeptical Inquiry<\/p>\n

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki<\/b> Author, Broadcaster and Scientist<\/p>\n

Sam Lister<\/b> Health Editor, The Times<\/p>\n

Brenda Maddox<\/b> Journalist and Biographer<\/p>\n

Dr Margaret McCartney <\/b>Columnist, Financial Times and GP<\/p>\n

Robin McKie<\/b> Science Correspondent, The Observer <\/p>\n

George Monbiot<\/b> Journalist<\/p>\n

Andrew Mueller<\/b> Journalist and Author<\/p>\n

Steven Novella <\/b>Editor, Science-Based Medicine; Director of General Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine and Author<\/p>\n

Vivienne Parry <\/b>Science Writer and Broadcaster<\/p>\n

John Rennie <\/b>Former Editor-in-Chief, Scientific American<\/p>\n

Nick Ross<\/b> Journalist and Broadcaster<\/p>\n

Ian Sample<\/b> Science Correspondent, The Guardian<\/p>\n

Ariane Sherine <\/b>Comedy, Writer and Journalist<\/p>\n

Michael Shermer <\/b>Publisher, Skeptic Magazine; Columnist Scientific American and Author of Why People Believe Weird Things<\/p>\n

Rebecca Smith <\/b>Medical Editor, The Daily Telegraph<\/p>\n

Bill Thompson <\/b>Technology Journalist<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Arts, Humanities and Entertainment<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Martin Amis<\/b> Novelist<\/p>\n

Joan Bakewell <\/b>Broadcaster and Journalist<\/p>\n

Antony Beevor <\/b>Historian<\/p>\n

Jo Brand <\/b>Performer<\/p>\n

Derren Brown<\/b> Psychological Illusionist <\/p>\n

Alain de Botton<\/b> Author<\/p>\n

Carol Ann Duffy<\/b> Poet Laureate<\/p>\n

Peter Florence<\/b> Director of The Guardian Hay Festival<\/p>\n

Stephen Fry <\/b>Broadcaster and Author<\/p>\n

Ricky Gervais<\/b> Writer and Performer<\/p>\n

Anthony Grayling <\/b>Professor of Philosophy, Birkbeck College University of London<\/p>\n

Dave Gorman <\/b>Writer and Performer<\/p>\n

Harry Hill<\/b> Performer<\/p>\n

Robin Ince<\/b> Performer<\/p>\n

Tim Minchin<\/b> Performer<\/p>\n

Dara O’Briain<\/b> Performer<\/p>\n

Penn Jillette<\/b> Illusionist, Juggler and Libertarian<\/p>\n

Libby Purves <\/b>Broadcaster, Journalist and Author<\/p>\n

David Starkey<\/b> Historian<\/p>\n

Teller <\/b>Illusionist, Juggler and Libertarian<\/p>\n

Sandi Toksvig <\/b>Broadcaster, Comedian and Author<\/p>\n

Dr Richard Vranch <\/b>Performer and Ex-physicist <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Skeptics and Campaign Groups<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Australian Council Against Health Fraud<\/b><\/p>\n

Australian Skeptics Inc<\/b> <\/p>\n

Peter Bowditch<\/b> Editor, www.ratbags.com<\/p>\n

Neil Denny <\/b>Little Atoms podcast<\/p>\n

Rachael Dunlop <\/b>Reporter, Skeptic Zone podcast<\/p>\n

Jonathan Heawood<\/b> Director, English PEN<\/p>\n

Narisetti Innaiah<\/b> Chairman, Center for Inquiry, India<\/p>\n

Andy Lewis<\/b> Blogger, quackometer.net<\/p>\n

Ronald A Lindsay <\/b>President and CEO, Center for Inquiry, USA<\/p>\n

Simon Perry<\/b> Founder, Skeptics in the Pub (Leicester)<\/p>\n

Dr Philip Plait <\/b>President, James Randi Educational Foundation, USA<\/p>\n

James Randi<\/b> CEO, James Randi Educational Foundation, USA<\/p>\n

Padraig Reidy<\/b> Index on Censorship<\/p>\n

Sid Rodrigues <\/b>Chairman, Skeptics in the Pub (London)<\/p>\n

Amardeo Sarma<\/b> Chairman, German Skeptics (GWUP)<\/p>\n

Eran Segev <\/b>President, Australian Skeptics Inc<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Law<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

David Allen Green<\/b> Solicitor<\/p>\n

Jonathan Morgan<\/b> Fellow in Law, University of Cambridge<\/p>\n

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC <\/b>Barrister and Labour Member of the House of Lords<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  \u201cThe law has no place in scientific disputes\u201d Simon Singh is to appeal the absurd and astonishingly illiberal ruling made by Sir David Eady […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[44,140,146],"class_list":["post-935","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-chiropractors","tag-simon-singh","tag-the-law"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/935","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=935"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/935\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=935"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=935"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.quackometer.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=935"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}