Chris Steele (doctor)

Doctor Chris Steele is a UK medical doctor well known for his many media appearances. He is the "resident" doctor on ITV's This Morning daytime magazine show. He appeared on the very first show in 1988 and still appears on the show every week. He also writes for magazines such as Woman Magazine and Top Sante. Dr Chris Steele qualified as a doctor in 1968 and has worked as a general practitioner in south Manchester since.

His son Andrew Steele, is an international athlete competing in the 400m for Great Britain.

Work on nicotine addiction
He became interested in treating his patients who smoked in the early 1970s and he is now recognised as an international expert in smoking cessation and nicotine addiction. He has lectured on this subject in over 27 countries around the world, making many media appearances.

Fight to have nicotine gum prescriptions paid by NHS
In 1984, the he was faced with a dilemma regarding the prescribing of nicotine gum (Nicorette) for smokers who wanted help in giving up their cigarettes. At that time in the UK, nicotine gum was a prescription only medicine (a POM). It was in fact the only POM amongst thousands that could not be prescribed at NHS expense, in other words it was not reimbursable under the socialised medicine system that was in effect at that time in the UK.

A Department of Health committee, known as the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances recommended that Nicorette should not be allowed on NHS prescription, because it decreed that "Anti smoking preparations are not regarded as drugs." Dr Steele regarded that nicotine was most certainly a drug and a powerful one at that, and so prescribed nicotine gum on NHS prescriptions for those motivated smokers who wanted to give up smoking. As a result of 'breaking the rules' Dr Steele faced various disciplinary hearings eventually having to present his case to an Tribunal of Independent Referees. At that tribunal a statement for the Secretary of State for Health read as follows: "Smoking is a habit it is not a disease or condition even though It may be a contributary cause of, or may aggravate, a disease or condition such as bronchitis, carcinoma of the lung, arteriosclerosis and so on."

The tribunal referees conclusions were:

IN THE MATTER OF DR. C. STEELE v THE SECRETARY OF STATE Our Conclusions to: Is tobacco dependency a disease?


 * We find it ought to be so considered.
 * We find that nicotine prescribed for this purpose has both a pharmacological and a therapeutic effect.
 * We find that this method of treatment is the most effective that has so far been evolved. 6th. July 1984.

Thus vindicating Dr Steele's stance in this matter.

Work on ITVs This Morning
Dr Steele has appeared on ITV's daytime magazine show This Morning since its first ever episode in 1988 and has remained the resident health expert since then.

Notable Items
He has notably pioneered the use of the TV medium to inform and educate the public in health matters. He showed live on air


 * Self examination of breasts
 * Self examination of testicles in January 1999 - claimed to be a TV "first"
 * Live vasectomy procedure on 28th September 2005 (Surgery by Dr Tim Black, CBE of the Marie Stopes International)
 * Live cervical smear 20th October 2005

He also developed skin cancer in the cheek and the procedure to remove this was also shown live on air.

Some of these items created controversy in the UK media.

YouTube controversy
Subsequently Dr Steele has pioneered the use of the Internet to raise awareness of important health issues. He has posted videos to youtube.com such as:


 * Live breast self-examination video
 * Live testicular self-examination video

However this has caused controversy in the UK media as youtube now rates these videos as "suitable for over 18s only" This was covered by the popular The Sun tabloid newspaper


 * Dr Chris Steele YouTube videos censored by YouTube

and slightly more accurately by TheRegister
 * YouTube videos censored

Weight Loss and Charlie Walduck
Dr Steele produced a weight loss system for This Morning in 1989. This proved very popular with viewers, with over 150,000 viewers requesting details. This resulted in Dr Steele being approached by a friend of Charlie Walduck in 2004. At that time Charlie weighed 44st, was unable to walk alone and was effectively confined to his home.

With Dr Steele's help, over the next year Charlie lost over 20st in weight, a record in the UK. Charlie has continued with his weight loss and now weighs less than 14st as of January 2007. He has participated in a 10k run and holidayed abroad for the first time.

References
 * Charlie Walduck on ITV's This Morning
 * Charlie Walduck's Web Site
 * Dr Chris Steele Interviews Charlie Walduck