An important piece in The BMJ has received very little news media attention so far, so we thought it was important to point it out here.
Two endocrinologists wrote an Analysis piece, “Web of industry, advocacy and academia in the management of osteoporosis.”
In a nutshell, they write that:
Their concluding paragraph:
“Improving transparency of the interactions between industry, academia, and advocacy organisations is desirable but reducing those interactions is more so. The emerging requirements that drug companies declare payments to health practitioners should be broadened to include supplements and food manufacturers. Advocacy organisations and specialist societies should eschew corporate sponsorship, and academics should not engage with advocacy organisations until it is clear that such commercial ties have been severed.”
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Meantime, The BMJ reports that a 1994 editorial by Doug Altman, “The scandal of poor medical research,” was voted the top paper published by the journal in a poll taken as part of the journal’s 20th online anniversary celebrations.
Altman wrote:
“What should we think about researchers who use the wrong techniques, use the right techniques wrongly, misinterpret their results, report their results selectively, cite the literature selectively, and draw unjustified conclusions? We should be appalled. Yet numerous studies have shown that all of the above phenomena are common. This is surely a scandal.” He called for “less research, better research, and research done for the right reasons.”
Opinions on other issues in news, journals, PR, advertising, marketing
Puleeeeease... this 'game changer' weight loss drug causes more nausea and vomiting than a placebo. Some game, some change. My friend Gary would spank you for using the eighth word medical reporters should never, ever use. @garyschwitzer @thackerpd
https://www.healthnewsreview.org/toolkit/just-journalists-writing-tips-case-studies/7-words-and-more-you-shouldnt-use-in-medical-news/ https://twitter.com/OttawaCitizen/status/1361426796126830597
A scary @statnews Op-Ed warns that govt attempts to rein in Pharma may cut off access to "life-changing" drugs.
It takes @garyschwitzer to let us know: the author spent 10 years as Pfizer's public-policy chief. https://twitter.com/garyschwitzer/status/1360325022578053123
.@TranspariMED criticizes STAT op-ed for not disclosing pharma funding of author’s institute - similar to criticism we’ve made of STAT op-eds in the past. @transparify @ThinkTankWatch @icer_review https://www.healthnewsreview.org/2021/02/transparency-watchdog-criticizes-stats-non-disclosure-on-pro-pharma-op-ed/
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