The Guardian Reports Hundreds of articles in medical journals claiming to be written by academics or doctors have been penned by ghostwriters in the pay of drug companies.
The journals, bibles of the profession, have huge influence on which drugs doctors prescribe and the treatment hospitals provide. But The Observer has uncovered evidence that many articles written by so-called independent academics may have been penned by writers working for agencies which receive huge sums from drug companies to plug their products.
‘A recognised doctor will then be found to put his or her name to it and it will be submitted to a journal without anybody knowing that a ghostwriter or a drug company is behind it. I agree this is probably unethical, but all the firms are at it.’
More Liberal bias classwarfare propaganda!
More socialists envious of our productive, hardworking pharmaceutical research industry, where the drugs that save lives are being developed at great risk and great price. Anyone who believes this is a liberal media dupe and hates America and capitalism.
Not a stretch for them to do this
Drug firms – and even tobacco companies – have sponsored research and have had scientists “consult” for them. It’s not a stretch to picture them more or less writing a report and getting someone else to sign as an author. Now, for reputable journals to _publish_ such stuff, accidentally or otherwise, that’s not good.
Re:Not a stretch for them to do this
Right. That’s supposed to be part of the idea behind “peer review.”
How widespread is rigorous peer review for conference and journal publication of papers these days? I get the impression that it’s getting to be an endangered species within the organization where I’m currently employed.