Professor Dame Sally Davies lies on National TV

[3born]

BBC REPLY

Thank you for sharing your concerns about an interview with the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, broadcast on the BBC News Channel.

The main point of the interview was to get Dame Sally's views on the upcoming ban on smoking in cars with children. At one point presenter Gavin Esler asked if the ban also covered 'vaping'. Dame Sally explained that it would not and she went on to express her concerns about the potential health impact of e-cigarettes:

"They put in flavourings - we don't know the impact of those. Butterscotch had to be withdrawn because people got chronic lung disease."

This was seemingly in reference to a story broadcast by the BBC last year, where we found that an e-cigarette liquid manufacturer had included a potentially dangerous butterscotch flavouring in one of its products. Experts said that the flavouring, diacetyl, had been shown to cause very serious lung conditions in the past.

So Dame Sally was correct in that there had been a case of butterscotch flavouring being withdrawn over health concerns, although we appreciate that you feel this point could have been explored further. During a live interview it’s not possible to question a guest over every point they raise and, in this case, the main point of discussion was the upcoming ban on traditional cigarettes.


Planet of the Vapes
Vaping since 3/6/14

 

[gav-76]

BBC REPLY

Thank you for sharing your concerns about an interview with the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Dame Sally Davies, broadcast on the BBC News Channel.

The main point of the interview was to get Dame Sally's views on the upcoming ban on smoking in cars with children. At one point presenter Gavin Esler asked if the ban also covered 'vaping'. Dame Sally explained that it would not and she went on to express her concerns about the potential health impact of e-cigarettes:

"They put in flavourings - we don't know the impact of those. Butterscotch had to be withdrawn because people got chronic lung disease."

This was seemingly in reference to a story broadcast by the BBC last year, where we found that an e-cigarette liquid manufacturer had included a potentially dangerous butterscotch flavouring in one of its products. Experts said that the flavouring, diacetyl, had been shown to cause very serious lung conditions in the past.

So Dame Sally was correct in that there had been a case of butterscotch flavouring being withdrawn over health concerns, although we appreciate that you feel this point could have been explored further. During a live interview it’s not possible to question a guest over every point they raise and, in this case, the main point of discussion was the upcoming ban on traditional cigarettes.


Planet of the Vapes
Vaping since 3/6/14

Just got the exact same message from BBC complaints.

Its the same as someone saying on a news broadcast for example: "beef burgers have been found to contain 50% horse meat", without stating the make of burger or where those burgers came from. Then everyone would be too shit scared to go out out and have a burger and the result would be KFC & Pizza Hut would be very busy indeed!

 

[3born]

No mention that she directly implied that butterscotch flavouring caused chronic lung disease the Bulshitting Bastards cooperation


Planet of the Vapes
Vaping since 3/6/14

 

[schlinky]

"Professor Dame Sally Davies stated "Butterscotch has had to be withdrawn because people got chronic lung disease."

This is blatantly untrue, there has never been a single case of anyone getting chronic lung disease (or any other disease) through the use of electronic cigarettes. This is a technology that HAS been proven to be 100-400 times safer than smoking and has the potential to save millions of lives in the UK alone.

These kind of statements have the power to dissuade current smokers from trying 'vaping', something which could ultimately save their life.

She was referencing a link with diacetyl, also found in cigarette smoke at (order of magnitudes) higher levels, and workers in a popcorn factory developing 'popcorn lung'. Given that no smoker has ever developed popcorn lung and the level of diacetyl is MUCH lower in electronic cigarettes it is therefore unreasonable to draw a correlation.
As Chief Medical Officer for England, the most senior medical advisor to the Government in the UK, I would expect her to be aware of this situation.

Granted this was a live interview and you can't prepare for any comment a guest may make but when you broadcast factually incorrect information that has the potential to cost lives you need to make the viewing public aware of this with a separate statement on the same timeslot.

If I don't achieve a satisfactory conclusion through this line of communication I will be exploring all other avenues in correcting this error."

Got the copy and paste response almost immediately.

 

[schlinky]

"Professor Dame Sally Davies stated "Butterscotch has had to be withdrawn because people got chronic lung disease."

This is blatantly untrue, there has never been a single case of anyone getting chronic lung disease (or any other disease) through the use of electronic cigarettes. This is a technology that HAS been proven to be 100-400 times safer than smoking and has the potential to save millions of lives in the UK alone.

These kind of statements have the power to dissuade current smokers from trying 'vaping', something which could ultimately save their life.

She was referencing a link with diacetyl, also found in cigarette smoke at (order of magnitudes) higher levels, and workers in a popcorn factory developing 'popcorn lung'. Given that no smoker has ever developed popcorn lung and the level of diacetyl is MUCH lower in electronic cigarettes it is therefore unreasonable to draw a correlation.
As Chief Medical Officer for England, the most senior medical advisor to the Government in the UK, I would expect her to be aware of this situation.

Granted this was a live interview and you can't prepare for any comment a guest may make but when you broadcast factually incorrect information that has the potential to cost lives you need to make the viewing public aware of this with a separate statement on the same timeslot.

If I don't achieve a satisfactory conclusion through this line of communication I will be exploring all other avenues in correcting this error."

Got the copy and paste response almost immediately.

Samantha,

Thanks for prompt (albeit copy and pasted) response. If Sally had said “Butterscotch was withdrawn from one liquid because it contained diacetyl, a compound which has been linked to lung disease” then that would have been more accurate and certainly not as misleading as “people got chronic lung disease” because ‘they’ didn’t, no one has. This is essentially a lie.

You have transmitted factually inaccurate information with public health implications. Can I confirm the BBC is not prepared to take any further action on this before elevating this matter further?

 

[Matheist]

I also received an identical email an hour ago in response to my complaint.

"So Dame Sally was correct in that there had been a case of butterscotch flavouring being withdrawn over health concerns, although we appreciate that you feel this point could have been explored further. During a live interview it’s not possible to question a guest over every point they raise and, in this case, the main point of discussion was the upcoming ban on traditional cigarettes."

<rant>

But she didn't say "there had been a case of butterscotch flavouring being withdrawn over health concerns", she said "butterscotch had to be withdrawn because people got chronic lung disease".

That's really not the same thing, not even close!

And just because the comment wasn't on the main point of discussion, does that give her free rein to blatantly lie?

To me it stinks of her having colluded with the interviewer beforehand to get him to ask about vaping just so that she could slip that pre-prepared piece of bullshit in, especially given her smug sanctimonious grin after she'd said it.

</rant>

Still awaiting a response from the DoH on this one though.

 

[quincey43]

I got the exact same e-mail today blah, blah, blah Grrrrr !!

 

[steffijade]

Received the exact sane copy/paste response.

There was no option offered or link in the email informing of the option to refuse their bullshit response, as I have received with previous complaints.

I have complained again, using the 'have you complained to us about this before' type option and sent them the following response :

I have received a response from your department regarding this complaint but the response is dismissive and totally inadequate.


In my original complaint I requested that the embedded video of Professor Dame Sally Davies be removed. I now wish to replace my request with a DEMAND for the video to be removed.


The casual, dismissive attitude of your department is appalling and your complete lack of regard for both the accuracy of Professor Davies's statements and the lack of comprehension of the potential knock on effects to public health are simply unacceptable from an organisation that is funded by the very same public that the video misinforms and risks harming.


As previously stated, there is NO evidence to back up the professor's claims that 'buttercotch' causes 'chronic lung conditions' and as such, your video is totally misleading, which goes against both your charter and editor's code.


Whilst I appreciate the difficulty of directing questions during a live interview, there is NOTHING preventing you from taking the retrospective step of removing a video that you have been shown to be inaccurate.


You have NO valid excuse for allowing such falsehoods to remain freely available on your website. I am frankly sick to the back teeth of arrogant, dismissive, uneducated media sources spreading such lies with impunity.


Please take note, if you refuse to remove this video containing obvious lies, I will be escalating the matter and you will have to face the consequences.

I would urge anyone who is unhappy with this dismissive, generic, bullshit response to their complaint to escalate the complaint by visiting the BBC complaints website, complaining about the response received, choosing the 'have you complained about this before' option and entering the complaint code contained in the email reply you received from the BBC.

This needs to be pursued and stepped up. A line in the sand need to be drawn and they need to realise that they can't get away with bullshitting us and just doing what they please.

edit: linky to complaints website: BBC - Complaints - Home Also, please note, replying to the email received from the BBC will achieve nothing. It's a generic email address and not monitored for responses. If you want to take the matter further, you have to use the complaints form again on the complaints website, using the 'complained before' option and inputting the code given in the mail you received.

 

[zenf]

Just signed up to post in here really - I was pretty outraged when I saw this and put in my complaints, got the standard copy and paste back from the BBC so made the follow up complaint saying this:

"Your response was correct regarding the withdrawal of a butterscotch flavoured e-liquid. The VIP Butterscotch e-liquid was found to have traces of diacetyl, which in sufficient quantities and exposure can lead to bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung), although NO case of this has ever been reported from either vaping or smoking, and cigarette smoke contains magnitudes more diacetyl than that found in the bottle from VIP (0.05 to 0.1%).

For her to say "Butterscotch had to be withdrawn because people got chronic lung disease." isn't just an exaggeration, it is completely false. If two smokers who watched that interview were scared off switching to vaping, one of them will die from it, and the responsibility for that death will lie with Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, and the BBC."

Bit of copy and pasting from the vapers.org.uk article but hopefully they'll get the point this time.

 

[steffijade]

Just signed up to post in here really - I was pretty outraged when I saw this and put in my complaints, got the standard copy and paste back from the BBC so made the follow up complaint saying this:

"Your response was correct regarding the withdrawal of a butterscotch flavoured e-liquid. The VIP Butterscotch e-liquid was found to have traces of diacetyl, which in sufficient quantities and exposure can lead to bronchiolitis obliterans (popcorn lung), although NO case of this has ever been reported from either vaping or smoking, and cigarette smoke contains magnitudes more diacetyl than that found in the bottle from VIP (0.05 to 0.1%).

For her to say "Butterscotch had to be withdrawn because people got chronic lung disease." isn't just an exaggeration, it is completely false. If two smokers who watched that interview were scared off switching to vaping, one of them will die from it, and the responsibility for that death will lie with Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, and the BBC."

Bit of copy and pasting from the vapers.org.uk article but hopefully they'll get the point this time.

Still not received a response from my follow up last week yet, will give them another week and if there's still no response, I'll be complaining directly to the BBC trust.

If they decide to stonewall it'll be going up to the secretary for culture, media and sport.