Montreal

David Healy, the University of Wales psychiatrist who sued the University of Toronto, its dean of medicine and the head of one of its teaching hospitals in a dispute over academic freedom, has won an appointment as a visiting professor at the university's medical school.

Healy, who has written and lectured widely on psychological drugs, had been offered the job of clinical director of the mood and anxiety disorders programme at the university's affiliated Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).

But the offer — which included a university professorship — was withdrawn after Healy gave a lecture at the university that was critical of 'psychotropic' drugs, including Prozac, made by Eli Lilly, which contributes funds to the CAMH (see Nature 413, 240; 2001).

The withdrawal resulted in a letter to the university president from 27 eminent scientists calling it “an affront to the standards of free speech and academic freedom”. Healy's Can$9.4-million (US$6-million) lawsuit charged that the university denied him academic freedom and that he was defamed as a scientist and physician during the university's attempts to justify the job withdrawal.

The CAMH website carries a joint statement from Healy, itself and the university, saying that they are “pleased to announce the settlement of all litigation and other outstanding disputes”.

“Although Dr Healy believes that his clinical appointment was rescinded because of his November 2000 speech at CAMH, Dr Healy accepts assurances that pharmaceutical companies played no role” in the reversal, the statement says.

The announcement adds that Healy will continue to write and speak on issues concerning pharmaceutical companies, research and academic freedom. Healy will visit the university for one week each year during the next three years.

Vic Catano, president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, calls the settlement “a complete vindication for Dr Healy”.

→ http://www.camh.net

→ http://www.caut.ca