Abstract
The content of the Royal College's report is herein reviewed, together with an outline of the background to its publication; its various shortcomings are highlighted. Several techniques of distortion employed in the report are enumerated and discussed, and suggestions are made as to how to avoid the introduction of bias into consensus statements. in conclusion, the article exhorts a united effort on the parts of all concerned to work together in accordance with the ethical principle of seeking to overcome the causes of human suffering.