Stop the Saatchi Bill

Driven by an extraordinary two-year PR campaign on social media and a supportive newspaper partner, this all started as Lord Saatchi’s Medical Innovation Bill, metamorphosed through several versions, and was resurrected under a new name by Chris Heaton-Harris, before finally clearing its last hurdle in the Lords this week to become the Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Act. Pretty much the only thing they share is the word 'Innovation' in the title.

One day, it may be possible for politicians to ask the people who actually work in the medical field: what are the problems you face, and how can we help you overcome them?

One day, politicians may actually listen to the answers they receive, and thus try to tackle genuine problems rather than imagined ones.

One day, politicians, medics, researchers, lawyers, patient groups, charities, and the public, may work together to overcome the barriers to the development and provision of new treatments.

But it is not this day.

Read more: Not this day

Second Reading in the House of Lords scheduled for 27 June

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The Second Reading of the Bill in the House of Lords has been scheduled for Friday 27 June 2014.

This is an opportunity for the Lords to debate all aspects of the Bill and now is the time for our supporters to contact one of the Lords and let him/her know about the problems with the Bill and the opposition to it from, for example, the Royal College of Physicians, Physicians of Edinburgh, Psychiatrists, Radiologists and Surgeons as well as the BMA, GMC, research charities, lawyers, etc, etc. For a list of these medical bodies, charities, lawyers and individuals, see here.

Please select a Lord and write to him/her here and ask him/her to mount a strong challenge to the Bill during the debate.

Ask them not to accept unfounded and unevidenced assertions that the Bill is needed; that the Bill is wanted; that the Bill protects doctors; that it blocks quackery or that the Bill protects patients. It does none of these things.

We will keep you updated on the Second Reading.

Please follow us and help us stop this Bill.