See William Heisel’s column that offers advice to journal editors and to journalists. He writes:
“Investigative journalists uncovered a series of scandals in recent years that have revealed the huge role that drug and device companies play in manipulating journal publications and continuing medical education programs through ghostwriting, speaking fees and other gun-for-hire arrangements.
Journal editors, though, have been slow to respond. No journal has stepped up to say, “We have investigated the extent of industry influence on the research in our journal and here is what we found.” Absent that, patients worldwide are left to wonder whether the drug they are being prescribed, the device being implanted in their body or the advice they are being given by their physician is based on strong science.”
Opinions on other issues in news, journals, PR, advertising, marketing
Come on, NY Times; you must do better than this. Important research doesn’t need hype and the “breaking news” BS doesn’t help readers or patients. https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2022/03/nyt-proclaims-breaking-news/
Our editorial team was blessed to have Sharon as a contributor during our best years. As this obit states, she was “kind, patient, wise, thoughtful and generous.” Thank you, Sharon; now rest in peace. https://journalism.wisc.edu/news/in-memoriam-sharon-dunwoody-1947-2022/
We’ve written about the hype of liquid biopsies for years (see link in comment below). And now this…. https://www.statnews.com/2022/01/12/medicare-shouldnt-cover-liquid-biopsies-early-cancer-detection/
Comments
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Dr. Lawrence Kindo
May 4, 2010 at 5:23 amI believe this kind of practice is not new but has found new takers in the medical industry. The company get the prescription and authentication, the doctor or investigator gets the moolah. I hope that more detailed investigations are done prior to publication. I know that would prove to be an expensive affair. But, what other choice do we have?
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