Dr Mal Washer, a Liberal Backbencher, called for a conscience vote on the issue of therapeutic cloning for stem cell research.  A number of newspapers quoted Dr Washer as saying that it's 'total, utter, psychotic rubbish' to afford stem cells the same rights as humans. 

Readers were concerned that the inaccurate and inappropriate use of the word 'psychotic' would perpetuate misunderstanding about psychosis, and trivialise a serious illness.

StigmaWatch wrote to Dr Washer on 08.08.06, urging him to keep this in mind in future.