Libel laws can be used to stifle legitimate scientific debate

CHALLENGING the scientific validity of a product or claim can be fraught with danger. Increasingly, such challenges are leaving scientists and science writers facing an expensive libel action before the English high court. Many individuals and publications have been threatened with libel actions, and some have had proceedings launched against them. Many more writers have had their work edited before publication to avoid any risk of such legal action.

Though the court’s jurisdiction extends only to England and Wales, these actions can threaten scientists and writers wherever they live and work. English libel law can be …