Every rational member of the scientific, medical, and (proper) journalist community was quite happy (and relieved) today when news broke out that Simon Singh’s appeal was upheld today by three of the most senior judges in England!

As a reminder, Simon was sued by the British Chiropractic Association, for writing in a Guardian article that they “happily promote” bogus treatments -that is, treatments with no evidence of efficacy. The Guardian had offered them the opportunity to respond and provide their evidence, fight for their integrity in the scientific arena, but the BCA chose instead to proceed with a lawsuit. One can only wonder why…

Of course, everyone really understood why: the BCA had no evidence to support Chiropractice! And this became evident when many months after they filed the lawsuit, they published their “plethora of evidence” only to be ridiculed by the totality of the scientific and medical community!

Back to today’s ruling, the judges’ comments are a major boost to the campaign for reforming the ridiculous British libel laws:

The ruling, by England’s two senior judges, Lord Judge and Lord Neuberger, together with Lord Justice Smedley, was scathing of the way the BCA began libel proceedings rather than taking up the Guardian’s offer of a right to reply. It acknowledged that the action had a “chilling effect on public debate”. The BCA’s actions had created the “unhappy impression” that it was “an endeavour by the BCA to silence one of its critics”.

Hopefully, as the Guardian also acknowledges, this important ruling will have positive impact on more than just Simon:

The landmark ruling will allow the writer, whose battle has become a catalyst for demands for libel law reform, to rely on a “fair comment” defence of his statements about chiropractors. It will also strengthen the position of others – from science writers and medical professionals to bloggers – who face libel suits, as the judges made clear the court was not the place to settle scientific controversies.

It is quite encouraging to hear these words amidst a period when anyone that has money can threaten to sue anyone that dares to criticize them!

Despite today’s result, Simon and the libel reform campaign still have a long way to go. We can only hope that there will be a happy end and wish them good luck!