Latest resolved complaints dealt with by the PCC. This story 13.6.2003

The majority of complaints made to the Press Complaints Commission, which raise a possible breach of the Code of Practice, are resolved directly between the Commission’s staff, editors and complainants.

These are either settled to the express satisfaction of the complainant following some remedial action by the editor or are not pursued by complainants following an explanation or other response from the publication.

Listed here are summaries of complaints involving the regional press which fall into the first category.

Wembley Observer
Dr Peter Carter, the chief executive of the Central and North West London Mental Health NHS Trust, complained that an article was misleading in reporting that a recent survey had shown that patients were overwhelmingly dissatisfied with the way in which the Royal Park Centre for Mental Health was run. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The matter was resolved privately between the parties.

Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Mr and Mrs B McAlinden of Peterborough complained that the newspaper – in an article about their house being burgled – published the name of the road on which they lived and a photograph that revealed their house number. (Clause 3)
Resolution: The newspaper sent a personal letter of apology to the complainants and undertook to remove from all files any pictures that showed their house number.

Manchester Metro News
Robin Jones, PR and communications manager for Ultralase, representing eye surgeon Mr Chatterjee, complained that the coverage of the latter’s GMC hearing for professional misconduct was imbalanced. He contended that the newspapers had failed to report Mr Chatterjee’s side of events at the hearing, at which he was cleared of all charges. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The newspapers made clear that they had reported the verdict, the MEN published a letter from Ultralase.

Manchester Evening News
Robin Jones, PR and Communications Manager for Ultralase, representing eye surgeon Mr Chatterjee, complained that the coverage of the latter’s GMC hearing for professional misconduct was imbalanced. He contended that the newspapers had failed to report Mr Chatterjee’s side of events at the hearing, at which he was cleared of all charges. (Clause 1)
Resolution: The newspapers made clear that they had reported the verdict, the MEN published a letter from Ultralase.

Scotland on Sunday
Adam Kelliher of London complained on behalf of the Horrobin family about a column in the newspaper that referred to his father-in-law Dr David Horrobin, who had recently died. He considered that the article made inaccurate and insensitive comments about Dr Horrobin’s pharmaceutical work. (Clauses 1, 5)
Resolution: The newspaper published a letter from Dr Horrobin’s widow and an apology from the columnist – and removed the article from the website.

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