Welsh Assembly adopts stance on medical innovation which is right for doctors and patients - MDU says Medical Defence Union 1 min read05 February 2015 Partner content Reacting to news that the Medical Innovation Bill has been rejected by the Welsh Assembly, Dr Michael Devlin, head of professional standards and liaison at the Medical Defence Union (MDU) said: "We are pleased the Welsh Assembly has decided the Medical Innovation Bill is not necessary in Wales. We gave evidence to the Welsh Health Social Care Committee consultation that the Bill will not aid innovation. It is more likely to cause confusion and delay where they do not currently exist. This would be to the detriment of doctors and patients. Doctors don’t need any additional protection as there is no gap in the current law. "Opening the debate on whether Wales needs a Medical Innovation Bill, the Minister for Health and Social Services, Mark Drakeford explained, there is a risk of real detriment to patients. He pointed out that the clinical trial system is well used by patients and that the Bill is 'a solution in search of a problem and not a very sound solution at that.' 1 "Doctors have been positively encouraged to innovate for years and it happens all the time in medicine. We are pleased the Welsh Assembly has recognised this and realises the Bill is unnecessary for Wales. We hope the English government will take note of this common sense approach." Related Dozens Of Tory MPs Oppose Smoking Ban As It Clears First Commons Hurdle By Adam Payne 16 Apr