Is the Medical Innovation Bill dangerous?

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No – quite the opposite.

Not only will it encourage better treatments and advance medical science, with the consent of patients, it will isolate the maverick, the eccentric and the snake oil salesman who act alone.

As things stand now, under the current law, a doctor wishing to innovate could, in theory, act alone. This Bill will stop this happening.

No doctor wishing to use the Bill can do so without specialist collegiate support. This is why the Bill stands squarely against the maverick and the quack.

Indeed, the intention clause of the Bill, which sets out what the bill is intended to achieve, explicitly states that: “The purpose of this [Bill] is to encourage responsible innovation in medical treatment (and accordingly to deter irresponsible innovation).


 

→LISTEN: Sir Michael Rawlins – BBC Radio 4 Today programme, June 2nd 2014.

 

Sir Michael Rawlins
Sir Michael Rawlins

Sir Michael is Chair of Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, former chairman for National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and President of the Royal Society of Medicine

“The Saatchi Bill will allow responsible innovation.” says Sir Michael Rawlins.

“From trying out things in individual patients, that can lead onto research and benefit thousands of other patients,” adds Sir Michael.


Lord Kakkar - Medical Innovation Bill
Lord Kakkar – House of Lords committee 24th October 2014

Lord Kakkar – House of Lords committee 24th October 2014 Professor of Surgery at University College London and member of the General Medical Council, speaking at the House of Lords committee on 24th October 2014.

“I was initially anxious about the fact that there were insufficient safeguards. The approach that I wished to adopt was one that I know has been considered but has been also dismissed.
‘I have, however, become reassured by the process under the supervision of the Medical Director of the NHS, Sir Bruce Keogh.

“He has consulted widely among the profession and I believe that the amendments in the name of the noble Lord, Lord Saatchi, particularly Amendments 12 and 16, bring us to a place where appropriate safeguards have now been introduced.

“I hope that they will be judged sufficient to provide the protection that all responsible and reasonable clinical practitioners would want in a Bill of this nature.”

→READ and WATCH: the full House of Lords commitee stage debate

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