Unspecified and unforeseen health problems have forced Mr Justice Antonio Lamer, formerly of the Canadian Supreme Court, to resign as chairman of the CMAJ's governance review panel. The Canadian Medical Association's journal had set up the panel after two top editors were sacked, in what many saw as a dispute over editorial independence (BMJ 2006;332: 503).

“This is not a decision I took lightly, but it was the only one available to me. Fortunately, if anyone understands the importance of putting health first, it's the doctors of Canada. I would like to wish the members of the panel well in their work, and I trust my announcement will not delay their …