High-profile Tauranga medical researcher Shaun Holt has slammed a Broadcasting Standards Authority ruling against one of his appearances on TV One's Breakfast programme.
Dr Holt said he did not respect the BSA's opinion and it didn't have the qualifications to make the ruling.
In a decision released yesterday, the BSA found Dr Holt's appearance on Breakfast on March 9 this year breached required standards of accuracy.
Dr Holt, who holds degrees in pharmacology and medicine and has undertaken over 100 clinical studies, has been a regular contributor to Breakfast, and on March 9 spoke about the effectiveness of chiropractors.
A subsequent complaint from the New Zealand Chiropractors' Association (NZCA) claimed the programme was not accurate, impartial or objective.
Particular issue was taken with comments from Dr Holt that chiropractic treatment could cause strokes, and had resulted in at least 700 cases of severe injury worldwide.
The NZCA also complained about Dr Holt's claims that he had surveyed New Zealand chiropractors and two-thirds had said they would treat children for asthma and ear infections.
Another complaint centred on Dr Holt claiming research showed chiropractic treatment could not benefit other conditions.
In upholding the complaint, the BSA found that Dr Holt was presented as an expert, and viewers would have expected him to give an objective, accurate account of medical research. But it considered that Dr Holt made a number of strong, unqualified statements about what scientific research said about chiropractic therapy.
Dr Holt said the BSA's ruling was "part of a much bigger battle between chiropractors and doctors that has been raging for the past 18 months" following author Simon Singh being sued for libel by the British Chiropractic Association, after he criticised their activities.
In a scathing attack, Dr Holt said he felt the BSA had "got it totally wrong" but he did not care, as he had no respect for their opinion.
"If it was a panel of four scientists, I'd care very much."
He said the BSA was made up of two journalists and two lawyers, none of who had any training in assessing scientific research.
Dr Holt compared the chiropractic fraternity to Scientologists, preferring to instigate legal action rather than debate issues.
He did not think the ruling would damage his professional reputation, adding his appearances on Breakfast were not under any threat.
"If you stick your head above the parapets, you're going to get some potshots."
No comments:
Post a Comment