AvMA welcomes amendments to Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill

Published: 28 Jan 2016

The Access to Medical Treatments (Innovation) Bill reaches the report stage in the House of Commons tomorrow. And following a strong campaign by Action against Medical Accidents (AvMA) and other parties, Chris Heaton-Harris MP has confirmed that he will be tabling amendments  to withdraw the controversial clauses 3 and 4 of the Bill.

These clauses, if they were to remain, would change the law of clinical negligence making it more confusing and meaning that treatment that would today be deemed negligent could not be in the future. AvMA and other commentators argued strongly that these clauses are unnecessary and dangerous as they would harm patient safety and injure patients’ access to justice.

Peter Walsh, chief executive of AvMA, said “We are grateful and relieved on behalf of patients for these amendments. This is a victory for common sense, patient safety and justice.

“Without these amendments the Bill posed a real threat to patient safety and justice. With careful scrutiny we believe the Bill now has to potential to support innovation and be a genuine help to patients.”

AvMA remain concerned about Lord Saatchi’s Medical Innovation Bill, which he may yet try to revive in the Lords, and which contains the very contentious proposals that are due to be removed from Mr Heaton-Harris’ Bill.