Request To Terminate Mental Health Consultation: The Truth Is A Lie?

March 19, 2009 - PRLog -- A comprehensive petition has been submitted by Freedom to Choose (Scotland) asking for the nullification of the consultation ‘Achieving Smoke-free Mental Health Services’.

Eddie Douthwaite, spokesperson for the pro-choice group, has cited various flaws in the consultation document, which is open for replies until Monday, 6 April. 1

“The document itself contains various claims that are extremely questionable, and it is entirely unreferenced,” states Eddie Douthwaite.  “No bibliography has been provided and it relies on claims that are already under dispute.”

Freedom to Choose are still awaiting replies to unanswered letters dating back to early February 2009 from the First Minister in relation to this consultation.  They have also alerted individual MSPs to the misleading information that is contained within it.

“The Tobacco Control division have already confirmed that the reduction in heart attacks in 2007 (the year after the ban was implemented) was just over 6%”, continues Eddie Douthwaite.  “I would like to know why this document contains the figure of a 17% reduction, when the official data from the ISD Scotland show otherwise. Other similarly contentious claims, some very tenuous, are stated as fact without any attempt to support them with evidence.”

"I am also concerned that one of the questions in the consultation refers to bans being extended into hospital grounds, a move that goes beyond the provisions of existing legislation."

Freedom to Choose will be placing an e-petition on the Holyrood official website requesting the termination of this consultation, and are still awaiting responses from their unanswered correspondence.  

Reference:
1.  Achieving smoke-free mental health services in Scotland: a consultation -
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/255862/0075839.pdf

Spokesperson: Eddie Douthwaite: 0131  331 3607

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A non-profit making voluntary organisation funded solely by the contributions of our members, and are united in their determination to expose the myths about smoking that are currently leading to the removals of the freedoms of people in our nation.