The Times Issues Apology Over Claim That Tobacco Companies Funded E-Cigarette Research

Five anti-smoking scientists may still sue The Times for claiming that these scientists received cash funding from tobacco companies.

The Times published three articles about these five scientists, implying that they received funding from tobacco companies for their research on e-cigarettes. However, it has now been confirmed as false news.

The newspaper has apologized to one of the scientists mentioned in the report, Clive Bates. However, the other four, including former government advisor David Nutt, say they should have apologized long ago. At the time, all five indicated they would sue the newspaper for defamation. Although they have now received an apology, they have not yet decided whether to drop the lawsuit.

Nutt acknowledged the apology but criticized the reporting as being driven by "commercial interests and ideology."

He said: "We are pleased that The Times has voted in favor of this issue, but if it indulges in such reckless reporting, it tarnishes the reputation of anti-tobacco scholars; otherwise, this would be a good thing."

"The fight to reduce tobacco harm is progressing towards victory, but it has also been continuously opposed by commercial interests and ideologies, as seen in the interests behind these articles."

On October 12, three articles titled "Tobacco Giants Fund Vaping Research," "Scientist Charm Offensive," and "The Smoking Phenomenon in Their Eyes" were published.

One article stated that the UK Cancer Research Center released information indicating that scientists who accepted thousands of pounds from tobacco companies for e-cigarette research organized a "scholarly production package."

Besides Nutt and Bates, there are three other professors: David Sweanor, Riccardo Polosa, and Karl Fagerström.

The online versions of these articles have been removed, replaced by an apology stating that the global work these five scientists have been dedicated to in reducing smoking and nicotine harm is respected.

It adds: "We now realize that the information in our reports about these experts receiving funding for e-cigarette research was incorrect. We accept that this was a mistake, and their work was not funded by the tobacco industry. We sincerely apologize for our errors and omissions, and for the embarrassment caused."

Sweanor, who works at the University of Ottawa's Centre for Health Law, Policy and Ethics, told The Guardian that the group has not yet decided whether to proceed with the defamation lawsuit. Although he said this has caused ongoing damage to his reputation, Sweanor stated that the main priority is to continue their work.

"Our goal is to simplify these matters," he said. "My point is that I just want to move on. You just need to keep going, do your work well, and people will forget some unnecessary information."

Currently, The Times has declined to comment on the apology.