UPDATE: GE Healthcare have now dropped their libel suit against Thomsen, The Guardian reports (18 Feb).

For readers following the debate over attempts to reform British libel law, an extra twist yesterday as Danish medical scientist Henrik Thomsen told The Guardian that he planned to launch a counterclaim for libel against GE Healthcare after the company had accused him of defamation.

The controversy arose after Thomsen made presentations (in the UK) about side-effects of gadolinium, a contrast agent used in MRI scans (and in GE Healthcare’s product Omniscan).

The Globe and Mail has also given the broader issue of libel laws and science some coverage this week.