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Published online 3 June 2009 |
Nature
| doi:10.1038/news.2009.542
Corrected online: 4 June 2009
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Science writer will appeal libel case ruling
Simon Singh to contest judge's pretrial decision on article meaning.
Science writer Simon Singh will apply Monday to appeal an early ruling in the libel case brought against him by the British Chiropractic Association (BCA), he announced yesterday at a press conference in London.
High Court judge Mr Justice Eady ruled in early May that Singh's article in The Guardian last year could be interpreted by readers as meaning that the BCA knowingly promotes medical treatments that do not work.
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Here is the Sense About Science statement about the libel laws and discussion of scientific and medical evidence: http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/project/334 The organization is inviting people to sign the statement online.
As this is a British site, I don't know if I'm allowed to post the URL for the article in question. Just in case other readers want to read it for themselves: http://gimpyblog.wordpress.com/2008/08/17/the-libellous-simon-singh-article-on-chiropractors/
RE: The "Singh v BCA" saga continues!? -- What has this case got to do with the British libel law? I thought this is a very clear and sad case of "kettle calling the pot black" syndrome, in the increasingly irresponsible, libelous "fad/bad science writing" industry, that I analyzed before here: http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2009/05/science_writer_waits_on_legal_1.html#comments (Science writer waits on legal advice in libel case -- RE: Simon Singh vs. the BCA -- How a "big bang" jolt could be defused into a "whimper" in the current fad/bad science writing industry!?). It's a case of "bad/fad science writing vs. bad/fad science practicing" indignities and allegations in the "public square" (and not in any conventional academic or scientific forums at all); therefore, it's a case of public saga/drama, that is absolutely necessary to be settled by the British libel law! In addition, this "Singh v BCA" drama (as it is being cheered and staged to play on) and the English libel law will have nothing to do with the conventional (responsible) academic "discussions [and/or writings] about scientific and medical evidence" forums, or journals, or books, etc; caveat lector! -- Best wishes, Mong 6/5/9usct1:12p; author "Decoding Scientism" and "Consciousness & the Subconscious" (works in progress since July 2007), "Gods, Genes, Conscience" (2006: http://www.iuniverse.com/bookstore/book_detail.asp?isbn=0595379907 ) and "Gods, Genes, Conscience: Global Dialogues Now" (blogging avidly since 2006: http://www2.blogger.com/profile/18303146609950569778 ).