‘Wrong to stifle expert comment’

Press, 27 February 1980, Page 13

‘Wrong to stifle expert comment’

PA Wellington Concern about an apparent attempt by the Department of Health to silence expert criticism of its rubella immunization programme has been expressed by the president of the Public Service Association (Mr D. H. Thorp). “Grave doubts have been raised by Dr W. Hamilton, the principal medical officer (virology) of the National Health Institute, about the Department of Health’s proposed use of a rubella live virus vaccine for vaccionation of Form l-level adolescent girls,” he said. Mr Thorp said Dr Hamilton had expressed his concern about the programme within the department on several earlier occasions.

“However, Dr Hamilton received little or no response from his department,” he said.

“It was at this point that he felt professionally and ethically bound to take the issue further — by drawing his concern to the attention of responsible members of the community — including the Minister of Health (Mr Gair) the Labour Party spokesman for health (Mr J. L. Hunt), and medical societies.”

Mr Thorp said the association did riot claim that Dr Hamilton was necessarily right and his department wrong.

“In fact, medical science may not be sufficiently advanced at this point to resolve the matter,” Mr Thorp said. “The P.S.A. claims, however, that it is wrong to use internal disciplinary procedures in an attempt to stifle expert comment on a subject of public concern.”