The influence of the BTA ????

[Guest guest]

Why do the GMC choose their “Expert Witnesses” from the British Thyroid Association.

Professor Weetman was the expert witness in Dr Skinner's hearing at the GMC.

Professor Lazarus is to be the expert witness at Dr Myhill's hearing in February 2008.

Professor Weetman is to the be expert witness at Dr Hyams's hearing at the GMC.

Professor Weetman is currently Chair of the British Thyroid Association.

Professor Lazarus is a past Chair of the British Thyroid Association.

Professor Weetman is a Trustee of the British Thyroid Foundation.

Professor Lazarus is a Trustee of the British Thyroid Foundation.

Professor Weetman is a co-opted member of the GMC governing body.

Professor Weetman is Dean of the School of Medicine and Professor of Medicine at Sheffield University.

Professor Weetman was the Wellcome Senior Clinical Research Fellow, Royal Postgraduate Medical School & University of Cambridge, 1985-1989.

Professor Lazarus is Professor of Clinical Endocrinology and Honorary Consultant at Cardiff University.

Professor Lazarus names, as his principal sponsors: Wellcome Foundation, funding for seven years for CATS Study. Abbott Diagnostics funding for extra thyroid studies. Bayer Company funding for thyroid diagnostic studies. Abbott Laboratories funding for clinical research fellow for vascular biology of thyroid disease Abbot Laboratories have a 62% share of the Synthroid market. (http:// pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/83/8325/8325thyroxine.html)

Professor Weetman names, as his principal funding sources: E.U. The British Skin Foundation The Vitiligo Society Former United Sheffield Hospitals Charitable Trust

Professor Lazarus (Lazarus J.H.) and Owen P.J.D. are the authors of the medical research paper 'Subclinical hypothyroidism: the case for treatment'.

Mr M Lynn (also expert witness at Dr Skinner’s FTP) was formerly the Founder of the British Endocrine Association and now member of the British Thyroid Association.

Mr Prentice – also gave evidence against Dr Skinner (Member of the British Thyroid Assocation)

Dr A Toft – Founder and past President of the British Thyroid Association.