Medical Cannabis (Access) Bill

Baroness Winterton of Doncaster Excerpts

Friday 10th December 2021 Commons Chamber

[Dr Mullan]

I want to make it clear that we said there are approved and allowed uses of this treatment, and I do not doubt that it helps in some circumstances, but today we have ended up having a general debate about types of evidence, with Members almost criticising RCTs and pumping up observational trials as an effective way forward. I caution Members to remember that the MMR scandal, which we now know led to the deaths of children because of how medical practice was changed, was based on an observational study of a small number of people—[Interruption.] It is not rubbish; it is true. Those parents were absolutely convinced that the MMR vaccine had caused autism in their children. They were very passionate about it and, when we looked at it properly with a longer lens, we saw that it was wrong. Be cautious about talking down RCTs and talking up observational studies. [Interruption.]

[Madam Deputy Speaker (Dame Rosie Winterton)]

Order. We must not have conversations across the Chamber. It is very confusing, not least for the Hansard writers.