From Dr E. V. Hoxey, MRPharmS
SIR,—Your report headed "ASA rejects two Persona complaints, but accepts a third" (PJ, September 18, p409) contains a factual error that requires correction. The complaints were not all from the Medical Devices Agency, as was stated in the article. The complaint regarding the reliability of the Persona was the Advertising Standards Authority's alone. The MDA was not associated with this particular complaint.
The MDA is pleased to note the ASA findings that Unipath should not have quoted selectively from a letter to general practitioners, thereby creating the impression that the agency endorsed Persona.
This finding is important in protecting the MDA's reputation for impartiality and the integrity of our communication with healthcare providers and professionals. The core aim of MDA is to protect the public health and safeguard the interests of patients and users of medical devices. The agency does not endorse either medical devices or consumer products.
Eamonn Hoxey
Head of Device Technology and Safety, Medical Devices Agency, London SE1