GOC counts the cost of aborted eBay case

Yesterday's full meeting of the GOC heard that its aborted prosecution of eBay has cost the Council thousands of pounds.

Earlier this month the Harley Street regulator backed away from its courtroom confrontation with the giant internet auction house over alleged illegal contact lens sales.

Yesterday (March 23) Council members were told of the cost and given an update on the latest situation.

A GOC spokeswoman said: 'The Council is not liable for eBay's costs, which will be met from central funds. The Council's costs are in the region of £14,000.

'The case has brought an important issue to light. We are raising our concerns with the Department of Health. We have also had contact with the police and trading standards on the issue, and we hope to work with them to ensure that a workable solution is found which ensures public protection.

'Regarding the "libel" claims, eBay contacted us following our initial press release on September 28 saying that they considered certain statements to be defamatory. We replied and issued a clarification on September 30. No proceedings have been issued.'

GOC members also heard that a 2005 complaint to GOC staff over an unnamed internet site had been taken as far as the Council's solicitors, but abandoned when evidential difficulties arose.

In addition, late last year other instances of internet sites selling spectacles were compiled and discussions held with law firm Blake Lapthorn Linnell regarding possible prosecution.

Action regarding those sites then under consideration is dependent upon the outcome of deliberations by a working group which was established by the Council to consider the GOC's approach to the issue of 'non face-to-face sales of optical appliances'.

After holding its first meeting in December the group determined that the next stage of its work should be to commission expert opinion as to the circumstances in which the supervision of sales would have to entail the exercise of clinical judgement, and would therefore require direct face to face contact.