The Celtic League have written to the Isle of Man Chief Minister expressing concern over the decision to delay publication of cancer statistics.

The League say there is unease and a lack of confidence in other jurisdictions over the way cancer data has been presented and it would be unfortunate if this unease was 'imported' into the Isle of Man (see below):

"The Chief Minister of the Isle of Man Rt Hon J A Brown MHK Government Offices Douglas Isle of Man

9th August 2008

Dear Mr Brown

Ref: Withholding of Cancer Study Statistics

I write with reference to the decision of your government to withhold publication of cancer statistics which have been in the possession of the Public Health Directorate for sometime.

I understand that the Director of Public Health (DPH) is on record saying:

'The department is not at a stage when it can release the results to the public; the results are preliminary and require validation, interpretation and identifying comparators etc.

'Especially in the case of the Isle of Man where the actual number of cases involved are small there is a need for careful statistical interpretation.

'While I am happy to share any result on health issues with the public, I have a responsibility to ensure that the data is valid and that members of the public are not led to draw erroneous conclusions.

'We have agreed that we will organise a presentation to the public, including the media, in October or November and we will honour this.'

Whilst no one would disagree with the DPH's desire to ensure that data is considered in context it is important that the public have an opportunity to look at the original data as well as any data subsequently published on the basis of qualified analysis.

You will be aware that there is unease in other (adjacent) jurisdictions about the withholding of cancer data. In Scotland the NHS is appealing to the House of Lords to be allowed to keep detailed cancer statistics secret, after losing its case in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, in a move which is making freedom of information (FOI) history. Meanwhile in Wales over a decade ago controversy surrounded the decision to close the Welsh Cancer Registry and replace it with an alternative body.

The unease and lack of confidence in respect of Cancer data in other jurisdictions is something I feel sure that the Manx government would not wish to see imported into the Isle of Man. For that reason it would be helpful if the government and Public Health Directorate would make the original data public.

Yours sincerely

Bernard Moffatt Director of Information"

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

09/08/08

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