http://bmj.com/cgi/content/full/327/7406/67-a

BMJ  2003;327:67 (12 July)
 

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Collections under which this article appears: Reproductive medicine Professional conduct and regulation

News

BBC accused of unethical journalism

Owen Dyer

London

Britain's most prominent assisted reproduction specialist, Professor Ian Craft, has accused the BBC investigative news programme Panorama of using unethical journalism in an attempt to smear him as an irresponsible doctor.

Professor Ian Craft: BBC has breached its own guidelines Credit: TOBY MELVILLE/PA

Professor Craft says that Panorama's producers sent an undercover journalist posing as a patient to his Harley Street clinic, the London Fertility Centre, in contravention of BBC guidelines. The visit was not included in the final edit of "The Baby Business," which was shown on BBC1 last Sunday.

The programme accused Professor Craft of exploiting loopholes in the regulations governing assisted reproduction, of failing to obtain fully informed consent from egg donors, and of using techniques that increased risks to egg donors and encouraged multiple pregnancies and premature birth.

Professor Craft was interviewed on the programme. He defended his "egg giving" scheme, saying it was not tantamount to trading in eggs, which is illegal in Britain. Under his scheme, patients receive a large discount on the costs of their assisted reproduction treatment if they first donate one month's harvest of stimulated egg production to the scheme, then undergo a second treatment to harvest eggs for themselves.

He denied claims that egg donors had been inadequately warned of the risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, saying the risk was explained repeatedly. Speaking to the BMJ, Professor Craft said that patients who had complained to the media had never complained to his clinic, although it offered a complaints service.

He said: "I find it ironic that the BBC should accuse me of acting unethically when they use journalistic techniques which breach their own guidelines. My lawyer looked it up, and according to their rules, they can only use undercover reporters when someone is suspected of criminal or highly antisocial activity. How do I fit into that category?" Professor Craft said his solicitor has sent a letter to Panorama, but he plans no further action.

Paul Rasmussen, a Panorama producer, said: "We're confident that we conducted the investigation in a proper manner, and we stand by our programme." Panorama presented its findings on-screen to the chairwoman of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, Suzi Leather, who seemed to promise to investigate them.

© 2003 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd