301:. It emerged that 10 of the papers cited had nothing to do with chiropractic treatment, and several weren't even studies. The remainder consisted of a small collection of poor-quality trials. More seriously, the BCA misled the public with a misrepresentation of one paper, a Cochrane review looking at the effectiveness of various treatments for bed-wetting ...
309:"has disowned the claims of the BCA—the same claims that lie at the centre of its libel action against Simon Singh. ... Notably, the report concludes that the evidence does not support claims that chiropractic treatment is effective for childhood colic, bed-wetting, ear infections or asthma, the very claims that Singh was sued for describing as 'bogus'."
279:
make claims about whiplash and colic from their practice, to be wary of new patients and telephone inquiries, and telling their members: "If you have a website, take it down NOW" and "Finally, we strongly suggest you do NOT discuss this with others, especially patients." One chiropractor is quoted as saying that "Suing Simon was worse than any
236:... Mr. Singh is unlikely to be the last victim of Britain's libel laws. Settling scientific and political disputes through lawsuits, though, runs counter the very principles that have made Western progress possible. "The aim of science is not to open the door to infinite wisdom, but to set a limit to infinite error,"
173:
that merely using the phrase "happily promotes bogus treatments" meant that Singh was stating, as a matter of fact (rather than as a matter of personal opinion or metaphor), that the
British Chiropractic Association was being consciously dishonest in promoting chiropractic for treating the children's
342:
must show that they suffer serious harm before the court will accept the case. Additional protection for website operators, a defence of "responsible publication on a matter of public interest", and new statutory defences of truth and honest opinion are also part of the key areas covered by the new
278:
being made against more than 500 individual chiropractors within one 24-hour period, with the number later climbing to one-quarter of all
British chiropractors. It also prompted the McTimoney Chiropractic Association to write in a leaked message to its members advising them to remove leaflets that
180:
The pre-trial hearing took place in
February 2010 before three senior judges at the Royal Courts of Justice. In April 2010, they allowed Singh's appeal, ruling that the high court judge had "erred in his approach". The Court of Appeal overturned the previous ruling that Singh's comments were an
147:
You might think that modern chiropractors restrict themselves to treating back problems, but in fact they still possess some quite wacky ideas. The fundamentalists argue that they can cure anything. And even the more moderate chiropractors have ideas above their station. The
British Chiropractic
83:
and the questionable claims made for it. At one point the so-called "quacklash" resulted in 500 formal complaints in 24 hours to the BCA and, before the case closed, a quarter of all members of the
British Chiropractic Association were under formal investigation.
152:, sleeping and feeding problems, frequent ear infections, asthma and prolonged crying, even though there is not a jot of evidence. This organisation is the respectable face of the chiropractic profession and yet it happily promotes bogus treatments.
286:
In response to demands that the
British Chiropractic Association "engage in scientific debate over its position", the BCA released a statement supposedly presenting scientific evidence, but "supported by just 29 citations". According to
885:
337:
and became law. The purpose of the reformed law of defamation is to "ensure that a fair balance is struck between the right to freedom of expression and the protection of reputation". Under the new law,
177:
Singh decided to appeal against the ruling, which raised substantially the potential financial liability that he would face if he lost the case. Leave to appeal was granted in
October 2009.
252:
271:
entitled "The
English law of libel has no place in scientific disputes about evidence", which was signed by about 20,000 people. Many press sources have covered the issue.
363:
1020:
127:
817:
32:
was an influential libel action in
England and Wales, widely credited as a catalytic event in the libel reform campaign which saw all parties at the
644:
781:
762:
1015:
456:
840:
329:) – all concerned about free speech and scientific debate – to join forces to form the Libel Reform Campaign. On 25 April 2013, the
1025:
494:
862:
667:
543:
949:
196:
Before Eady's preliminary ruling was overturned on appeal, commentators said that the ruling could set a precedent that had
1030:
589:
33:
975:
521:
371:
217:
922:
557:
463:
107:
52:
896:
418:
224:
295:
ripped apart by bloggers within 24 hours of publication, before being subjected to a further shredding in the
306:
17:
181:
assertion of fact and instead ruled that Singh was entitled to defend his comments as legally permissible
933:
One in four chiropractors in
Britain are under investigation as a result of campaign by Singh supporters.
630:
212:
commented on the case, and suggested that the BCA may be trying to suppress debate and that this use of
247:
It is time British politicians restrain the law so that wisdom prevails in the land, and not errors.
188:
BCA withdrew their libel action shortly after this ruling, resulting in the end of the legal case.
98:
published Singh's column "Beware the Spinal Trap", an article that was critical of the practice of
785:
759:
274:
The publicity produced by the libel action led to a "furious backlash", with formal complaints of
114:
supported him and funded his legal advice, as well as offering to pay the BCA's legal costs in an
868:
851:
742:
297:
267:
launched a lobbying campaign to draw attention to the case. They issued a statement and began an
170:
115:
857:
453:
434:
400:
1005:
197:
1010:
828:
701:
205:
950:"The Great Beyond: Chiropractic group advises members to 'withdraw from the battleground'"
8:
879:
769:
330:
322:
318:
264:
256:
242:
228:
cited the case as an example of how British libel law "chills free speech", saying that:
166:
72:
68:
41:
705:
578:
396:
45:
719:
414:
367:
275:
213:
201:
873:
737:
846:
709:
474:
280:
615:
317:
The Singh case and several other high-profile cases prompted three organizations (
812:
766:
460:
268:
237:
999:
216:
is a burden on the right to freedom of expression, which is protected by the
601:
927:
834:
723:
439:
334:
182:
136:
132:
122:
99:
94:
80:
923:"Furious backlash from Simon Singh libel case puts chiropractors on ropes"
326:
56:
841:
Science writer Simon Singh to appeal against chiropractic libel judgment
234:
a bill that would make British libel judgments unenforceable in the U.S.
891:
233:
162:
149:
140:
823:
339:
714:
689:
364:"Science Campaigners Celebrate New Libel Law for England and Wales"
148:
Association claims that their members can help treat children with
886:
Stephen Fry and Ricky Gervais defend science writer sued for libel
495:"Science writer accused of libel may take fight to European court"
251:
174:
ailments in question. Singh denied he intended any such meaning.
64:
60:
579:
England & Wales Court of Appeal (Civil Division) Decisions
131:, and made various statements about the lack of usefulness of
75:, it brought together a large community of science-supporting
103:
37:
818:
Silenced, the writer who dared to say chiropractice is bogus
522:"Simon Singh vs the British Chiropractic Association, redux"
121:
The article developed the theme of the book that Singh and
76:
976:"The Great Beyond: Complaints converge on chiropractors"
283:
and chiropractors know it and can do nothing about it."
645:"Chiropractic critic loses first round in libel fight"
631:"Science writer Simon Singh wins bitter libel battle"
110:(BCA). When the case was first brought against him,
232:As a consequence, the U.S. Congress is considering
63:were beginning to make use of social media such as
760:Sign up now to keep the libel laws out of science!
558:"Judge 'baffled' by Simon Singh chiropractic case"
395:
128:Trick or Treatment? Alternative Medicine on Trial
997:
488:
486:
361:
259:, which has published this button in his favour.
79:and resulted in unprecedented media coverage of
590:Science writer wins "fair comment" libel appeal
628:
255:Simon Singh has been supported by the charity
29:British Chiropractic Association (BCA) v Singh
536:
483:
852:Science writer will appeal libel case ruling
755:
753:
613:
602:Science writer Simon Singh wins libel appeal
943:
941:
829:Review of libel law called for by comedians
544:"News in brief: Singh wins leave to appeal"
391:
389:
357:
355:
102:and which resulted in Singh being sued for
916:
914:
912:
910:
908:
906:
863:Singh plans to appeal ruling in libel case
774:
546:. Times Higher Education. 29 October 2009.
1021:Court of Appeal (England and Wales) cases
750:
713:
938:
730:
668:"Comment: Don't criticise, or we'll sue"
428:
426:
386:
352:
250:
920:
903:
560:. Index on Censorship. 23 February 2010
519:
492:
14:
998:
55:against science author and journalist
800:
665:
432:
423:
413:The Geek Manifesto, Mark Henderson,
156:
1016:United Kingdom free speech case law
973:
947:
520:Cressey, Daniel (14 October 2009).
218:European Convention on Human Rights
24:
666:Green, David Allen (13 May 2009).
616:"Case dropped against Simon Singh"
362:Moskvitch, Katia (25 April 2013).
25:
1042:
921:Robbins, Martin (1 March 2010).
629:Mark Henderson (15 April 2010).
108:British Chiropractic Association
53:British Chiropractic Association
36:making manifesto commitments to
1026:2010 in United Kingdom case law
967:
682:
659:
637:
622:
607:
595:
583:
572:
312:
614:Pallab Ghosh (15 April 2010).
550:
513:
493:Boseley, Sarah (14 May 2009).
468:
433:Singh, Simon (19 April 2008).
407:
225:The Wall Street Journal Europe
13:
1:
346:
87:
647:. New Scientist. 15 May 2009
307:General Chiropractic Council
191:
51:The case was brought by the
7:
1031:English defamation case law
897:Simon Singh's Bogus Journey
464:reinstated on 15 April 2010
67:and social gatherings like
59:. Occurring at a time when
40:reform, and passage of the
10:
1047:
874:Britain Chills Free Speech
782:"The campaign at a glance"
738:Britain Chills Free Speech
118:if Singh chose to settle.
690:"Unjust burdens of proof"
459:10 February 2012 at the
435:"Beware the spinal trap"
869:The Wall Street Journal
743:The Wall Street Journal
633:. London: Times Online.
298:British Medical Journal
171:Royal Courts of Justice
116:out-of-court settlement
858:Times Higher Education
303:
260:
249:
154:
135:"for such problems as
604:BBC news 1 April 2010
592:Reuters, 1 April 2010
401:"Defamation Act 2013"
305:In a new report, the
293:
254:
230:
145:
34:2010 general election
206:alternative medicine
125:had just published,
880:The Daily Telegraph
770:Sense about Science
706:2009Natur.459Q.751.
700:(7248): 751. 2009.
331:Defamation Act 2013
323:Index on Censorship
319:Sense about Science
265:Sense about Science
257:Sense about Science
243:The Life of Galileo
167:preliminary hearing
73:Skeptics in the Pub
69:The Amazing Meeting
42:Defamation Act 2013
765:2009-12-03 at the
397:British Parliament
291:, the article was
261:
208:. An editorial in
92:On 19 April 2008,
46:British Parliament
499:The Guardian (UK)
399:(25 April 2013).
276:false advertising
214:English libel law
202:freedom of speech
157:Legal proceedings
16:(Redirected from
1038:
991:
990:
988:
986:
974:Laursen, Lucas.
971:
965:
964:
962:
960:
948:Laursen, Lucas.
945:
936:
935:
918:
901:
804:
798:
797:
795:
793:
784:. Archived from
778:
772:
757:
748:
736:Salil Tripathi.
734:
728:
727:
717:
686:
680:
679:
677:
675:
663:
657:
656:
654:
652:
641:
635:
634:
626:
620:
619:
611:
605:
599:
593:
587:
581:
576:
570:
569:
567:
565:
554:
548:
547:
540:
534:
533:
531:
529:
517:
511:
510:
508:
506:
490:
481:
472:
466:
452:
450:
448:
430:
421:
411:
405:
404:
393:
384:
383:
381:
379:
370:. Archived from
359:
281:Streisand effect
198:chilling effects
21:
1046:
1045:
1041:
1040:
1039:
1037:
1036:
1035:
996:
995:
994:
984:
982:
972:
968:
958:
956:
946:
939:
919:
904:
813:The Independent
805:
801:
791:
789:
780:
779:
775:
767:Wayback Machine
758:
751:
735:
731:
715:10.1038/459751a
688:
687:
683:
673:
671:
670:. New Scientist
664:
660:
650:
648:
643:
642:
638:
627:
623:
612:
608:
600:
596:
588:
584:
577:
573:
563:
561:
556:
555:
551:
542:
541:
537:
527:
525:
518:
514:
504:
502:
491:
484:
475:Comment is Free
473:
469:
461:Wayback Machine
446:
444:
431:
424:
412:
408:
394:
387:
377:
375:
360:
353:
349:
315:
269:online petition
194:
163:Mr Justice Eady
159:
90:
48:in April 2013.
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1044:
1034:
1033:
1028:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
993:
992:
966:
937:
902:
900:
899:
888:
876:
865:
854:
843:
831:
820:
807:Press Coverage
799:
773:
749:
729:
681:
658:
636:
621:
606:
594:
582:
571:
549:
535:
512:
482:
467:
422:
406:
385:
350:
348:
345:
314:
311:
238:Bertolt Brecht
193:
190:
158:
155:
137:ear infections
89:
86:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1043:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1003:
1001:
981:
977:
970:
955:
951:
944:
942:
934:
930:
929:
924:
917:
915:
913:
911:
909:
907:
898:
894:
893:
889:
887:
883:
881:
877:
875:
871:
870:
866:
864:
860:
859:
855:
853:
849:
848:
844:
842:
838:
836:
832:
830:
826:
825:
821:
819:
815:
814:
810:
809:
808:
803:
788:on 4 May 2011
787:
783:
777:
771:
768:
764:
761:
756:
754:
747:, 4 June 2009
746:
744:
739:
733:
725:
721:
716:
711:
707:
703:
699:
695:
691:
685:
669:
662:
646:
640:
632:
625:
617:
610:
603:
598:
591:
586:
580:
575:
559:
553:
545:
539:
523:
516:
500:
496:
489:
487:
480:
476:
471:
465:
462:
458:
455:
442:
441:
436:
429:
427:
420:
416:
410:
402:
398:
392:
390:
374:on 9 May 2013
373:
369:
365:
358:
356:
351:
344:
341:
336:
332:
328:
324:
320:
310:
308:
302:
300:
299:
292:
290:
284:
282:
277:
272:
270:
266:
258:
253:
248:
246:
244:
239:
235:
229:
227:
226:
221:
219:
215:
211:
207:
204:to criticise
203:
199:
189:
186:
184:
178:
175:
172:
168:
164:
161:In May 2009,
153:
151:
144:
142:
138:
134:
130:
129:
124:
119:
117:
113:
109:
105:
101:
97:
96:
85:
82:
78:
74:
70:
66:
62:
58:
54:
49:
47:
43:
39:
35:
31:
30:
19:
1006:Chiropractic
983:. Retrieved
979:
969:
957:. Retrieved
953:
932:
928:The Guardian
926:
890:
878:
867:
856:
845:
835:The Guardian
833:
822:
811:
806:
802:
790:. Retrieved
786:the original
776:
741:
732:
697:
693:
684:
672:. Retrieved
661:
649:. Retrieved
639:
624:
609:
597:
585:
574:
562:. Retrieved
552:
538:
526:. Retrieved
524:. nature.com
515:
503:. Retrieved
498:
479:The Guardian
478:
470:
445:. Retrieved
440:The Guardian
438:
409:
376:. Retrieved
372:the original
335:royal assent
316:
313:Legal impact
304:
296:
294:
289:The Guardian
288:
285:
273:
263:The charity
262:
241:
231:
223:
222:
209:
195:
187:
183:fair comment
179:
176:
160:
146:
141:infant colic
133:chiropractic
126:
123:Edzard Ernst
120:
112:The Guardian
111:
100:chiropractic
95:The Guardian
93:
91:
81:chiropractic
50:
28:
27:
26:
18:BCA v. Singh
1011:Simon Singh
980:Nature News
954:Nature News
847:Nature news
618:. BBC News.
327:English PEN
165:ruled in a
57:Simon Singh
1000:Categories
892:The Lawyer
528:14 October
447:21 January
419:0593068238
347:References
340:plaintiffs
88:Background
824:The Times
333:received
240:wrote in
192:Reception
763:Archived
724:19516290
501:. London
457:Archived
443:. London
61:skeptics
985:20 June
959:20 June
792:18 June
702:Bibcode
454:Alt URL
378:18 June
368:Science
200:on the
169:at the
106:by the
65:Twitter
44:by the
882:online
837:online
745:Europe
722:
694:Nature
674:19 May
651:19 May
564:4 June
505:19 May
417:
325:, and
210:Nature
343:law.
150:colic
104:libel
77:geeks
38:libel
987:2009
961:2009
794:2012
720:PMID
676:2009
653:2009
566:2011
530:2009
507:2009
449:2009
415:ISBN
380:2013
139:and
71:and
710:doi
698:459
143:":
1002::
978:.
952:.
940:^
931:.
925:.
905:^
895::
884::
872::
861::
850::
839::
827::
816::
752:^
740:.
718:.
708:.
696:.
692:.
497:.
485:^
477:,
437:.
425:^
388:^
366:.
354:^
321:,
220:.
185:.
989:.
963:.
796:.
726:.
712::
704::
678:.
655:.
568:.
532:.
509:.
451:.
403:.
382:.
245:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.