Our place to talk – an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK.

The most-read independent website by and for Lib Dem supporters. Not paid for by trade unions or millionaires.

Advert

Author Archives: Dominic Nutt

The Independent View: Commons must debate key Medical Innovation Bill before election

By Dominic Nutt | Thu 19th February 2015 - 8:55 am

Maurice Saatchi’s Medical innovation Bill has caused controversy and inspired a passionate debate on how doctors and scientists can and should speed up medical advance for currently incurable diseases.

The Bill is designed to do two things. First, it will offer clarity and confidence to doctors who want to innovate and move away from standard procedures.

When might that be relevant? In most cases standard procedures work and innovation is unnecessary. There is a vast quantity of scientifically validated data which supports standard medical procedures.

But in some cases – specially for rare and incurable diseases – there is little scientific data and no effective treatments. In such cases, a doctor and the patient may face a choice, between applying the standard treatments, even though they are known not to work and will lead only to death, or to try something new.

Continue reading »

Posted in Op-eds and The Independent View | Tagged house of commons, medical innovation bill, parliamentary and science | 64 Comments

Most Read

Op-eds

The Brexit Referendum – 10 years on (Callum Robertson)
One year on, and I’m still finding it hard to feel pride (Rebecca Jones)
Andy Burnham’s housing challenge: Why his own arguments demand more than Labour’s current plans (Iain Donaldson)
ALDC’s by-election report – 18th June (Joe Nutt)
Mathew on Monday: Starmer’s resignation and an increasingly ungovernable country (Mathew Hulbert)

Advert

Recent Comments

Peter Martin
"In the decade since that day.......We have missed out on roughly 6-8% of growth" Where does this figure come from? In any case, we didn't actuall...
Richard Flowers
Dear Rebecca, It is you who gives me hope and lets me take Pride. Thanks to your tireless work, and other members of the Plus committee and community, you�...
George Thomas
Have just come from the latest post discussing Welsh Lib Dems struggles to a post regarding better transport. Does this mean support for retrospective funding f...
Tristan Ward
“Let’s start by arguing that the economic benefits of the Single Market far exceed having to accept freedom of movement into the UK, and take it from there....
Chloe
'Needless to say the poorest in British society paid the price for this' I remember canvassing , the poorer the area the less interested they were. Membership ...