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The Bill criticised over MS plot | |
(about 8 hours later) | |
ITV1 drama The Bill has been criticised as "grossly irresponsible" for making up the name of a drug to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in a recent programme. | ITV1 drama The Bill has been criticised as "grossly irresponsible" for making up the name of a drug to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) in a recent programme. |
The episode, broadcast on Wednesday, featured an MS patient being told about a fictional drug, Plavitron, which could alleviate MS symptoms. | The episode, broadcast on Wednesday, featured an MS patient being told about a fictional drug, Plavitron, which could alleviate MS symptoms. |
"It was grossly irresponsible of The Bill to make up a drug," said MS Society spokesman Chris Bentley. | "It was grossly irresponsible of The Bill to make up a drug," said MS Society spokesman Chris Bentley. |
ITV said it believed it had "told the story responsibly and sensitively". | ITV said it believed it had "told the story responsibly and sensitively". |
There are few effective treatments for MS and any mention of a new drug generates a lot of hope and excitement in people living with and affected by the condition Chris BentleyMS Society | There are few effective treatments for MS and any mention of a new drug generates a lot of hope and excitement in people living with and affected by the condition Chris BentleyMS Society |
"We researched both the condition and possible treatments - existing and proposed - before and during the writing process," an ITV spokeswoman said. | "We researched both the condition and possible treatments - existing and proposed - before and during the writing process," an ITV spokeswoman said. |
She added: "It was certainly not our intention to offend or mislead." | She added: "It was certainly not our intention to offend or mislead." |
Fictional places, names and products were featured in storylines "often for legal reasons", she said. | Fictional places, names and products were featured in storylines "often for legal reasons", she said. |
Mr Bentley said the MS Society's helpline had received a number of calls from people wanting to know more about Plavitron only to be told it did not exist. | Mr Bentley said the MS Society's helpline had received a number of calls from people wanting to know more about Plavitron only to be told it did not exist. |
"There are few effective treatments for MS and any mention of a new drug generates a lot of hope and excitement in people living with and affected by the condition," said Mr Bentley. | "There are few effective treatments for MS and any mention of a new drug generates a lot of hope and excitement in people living with and affected by the condition," said Mr Bentley. |
"People with MS have a tough enough time as it is without being misled over treatments," he added. | "People with MS have a tough enough time as it is without being misled over treatments," he added. |
About 85,000 people in the UK have MS, a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. | About 85,000 people in the UK have MS, a degenerative disease of the central nervous system. |
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