Intended for healthcare professionals

Rapid response to:

Observations Medical Legislation

The “Saatchi bill” will allow responsible innovation in treatment

BMJ 2014; 348 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g2771 (Published 15 April 2014) Cite this as: BMJ 2014;348:g2771

Rapid Response:

Re: The “Saatchi bill” will allow responsible innovation in treatment

It is important to distinguish the legal principles from the consequences of professional misinterpretation of them. Elizabeth Butler-Sloss was clear in the case cited that all that the law needed was evidence "that there is a responsible body of relevant professional opinion which supports this innovative treatment." In law, the Bill may raise the barriers to innovation by imposing significantly greater procedural requirements than the current legal test. However, if clinicians perceive there to be a problem, then there is one (although not one of legal doctrine).

Competing interests: Also Chair, Health Research Authority but writing in a personal capacity here.

17 April 2014
Jonathan Montgomery
Professor of Health Care Law
University College London
Bentham House, Endsligh Gardens, London WC1 0EG