15 January 2002

Why trying to avoid risks can put us in danger

Every day we make decisions based on our judgement of what is safe and what is dangerous, but our perception of what will harm us can be very wrong. The Royal Society of Medicine conference How Risky is Health, (25th January 2002) will look at these decisions from individuals up to government level, and ask why we are so bad at assessing health risks.

Why we are wrong about MMR, the railways, and organic food
Professor Sir Colin Berry, St Barts and the London, - Conceptions and misconceptions of risk
Our assessment of what is good or bad for us has become so illogical that our judgements can be "damaging to society", according to Professor Berry will argue. He will explain why he thinks rail safety measures after Hatfield probably killed more people than it saved, why our fear of MMR is dangerously irrational, and why our assumption that organic crops offer an answer to the problems of agriculture are "absurd". He will look at the role the media plays in shaping our fears, and discuss what might be done to help us to assess risk more effectively.
NB: NB Professor Berry will not be available for interview until after 22nd January

Foot and mouth pyres: how can we tell if human health was at risk?
Professor Dr Luc Hens, Vrije Universiteit, Belgium, - Environmental Health Impact Assessment
When high levels of cancer-causing dioxins were found in Belgian poultry, Professor Hens was among the specialists involved in investigating the risk to consumers. He will explain why his experiences are of interest to the UK, particularly for those assessing the health risks of dioxin-releasing pyres during the foot and mouth crisis.

Are NHS 'risk managers' helping?
Professor Rod Griffiths, Regional Director of Public Health, NHS Executive West Midlands - An NHS perspective
NHS Trusts with good risk managers do better in Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) inspections, Professor Griffiths claims, although not all Trusts have all the right systems in place to learn from mistakes and near-misses. With the main areas of risk assessment controlled by three different Sections of the Department of Health, how can the NHS 'join-up' its approach to reducing risk?

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