Makers of The Bill have been accused of being 'grossly irresponsible' for making up the name of a drug to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). The MS Society received calls from sufferers of the neurological condition who wanted to know more about 'Plavitron' after it was mentioned in the ITV cop drama on Wednesday. The episode saw Michael Drummond, a doctor with MS, acquitted of malpractice following the death of a patient. He's told by his colleague that there's a drug, Plavitron, to alleviate MS symptoms, which is undergoing testing but not available in the UK. The MS Society said the drama shouldn't mislead viewers over treatments. Spokesman Chris Bentley said: "There are few effective treatments for MS and any mention of a new drug generates a lot of hope and excitement in people living with and affected by the condition. "Our helpline has taken a number of calls from people wanting to know more about the made up drug Plavitron and we've had to tell them it doesn't exist. It was grossly irresponsible of The Bill to make up a drug. People with MS have a tough enough time as it is without being misled over treatments." A show spokeswoman said: "The Bill is a drama series set in a fictional police station and, as such, our stories will feature fictional places, names and products. This is often for legal reasons. "The episode in question featured a fictitious, experimental drug called Plavitron. We researched both the condition and possible treatments - existing and proposed - before and during the writing process, and believe that we told the story responsibly and sensitively. "It was certainly not our intention to offend or mislead."
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