Drug culture 2

I was concerned to see you describe the self-styled Coalition for Medical Progress as "an umbrella group of research funders that promotes public dialogue about animal research" ("Anger at centre for animal welfare", April 9).

This is less than accurate. The coalition is a straightforward, pro-vivisection propaganda group whose aim is to downplay the suffering caused by animal research and to exaggerate the necessity and utility of the research methodology.

Your description gives the false impression that it is somehow "neutral" on the issue.

You also published an opinion piece by another misdescribed pro-vivisection lobbyist, Simon Festing, with no critique of animal research to provide opinion to balance.

As a result you give the impression of seeking to mislead your readers and publish propaganda rather than balanced news, which is worrying for a paper that tries to give the impression that it reflects and adopts a scholarly approach to issues.

Dan Lyons
Director
Uncaged Campaigns