Published 4 November 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b4563
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;339:b4563

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Scientists want more protection after government adviser is sacked

¹ BMJ

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Scientists are calling on the UK government to agree a new statement of principles to protect the independence of its scientific advisers after the home secretary, Alan Johnson, sacked David Nutt as his chief adviser on drug misuse.

Mr Johnson told parliament that he had "lost confidence" in Professor Nutt, a leading expert on the relative risk of different drugs, after he publicly criticised the government’s decision to reclassify cannabis from class C to the more serious class B.

The sacking, and Mr Johnson’s assertion that Professor Nutt was "campaigning" for a change in government policy, caused a media furore, and the home secretary was forced to explain his actions to MPs. Two other members of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, which Professor Nutt chaired, resigned in protest at his dismissal.

The remaining council members, who have written to Mr Johnson voicing their concerns and asking for . . . [Full text of this article]

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Follow the debate on Professor Nutt's departure at doc2doc.bmj.com, BMJ Group's professional networking site for doctors worldwide

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