Science

Taking Researcher-Industry Conflicts To Heart

by Diane Farsetta — December 28, 2005 - 1:05pm

 

"After learning that researchers for two studies it published this year didn't reveal financial ties to the maker of heart-surgery equipment that they evaluated favorably," the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery decided to go beyond publishing corrections that "reveal the

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 28, 2005

A Cancer Risk Conveniently Lost in Translation

by Diane Farsetta — December 27, 2005 - 3:33pm

A groundbreaking public health study by Chinese doctor Zhang JianDong in 1987 was used by U.S. regulatory agencies "as evidence that a form of" the chemical chromium "might cause cancer." Ten years later, "a 'clarification and further analysis' published under his name in a U.S. medical journal said there was no cancer link to chromium." But "Dr.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal, December 23, 2005

Rent-a-Researcher

by Sheldon Rampton — December 25, 2005 - 4:35pm

"Earlier this month," writes Jennifer Washburn, "Sheffield University in Britain offered $252,000 to one of its senior medical professors, Aubrey Blumsohn. According to a copy of a proposed settlement released by Blumsohn, the university promised to pay him if he would agree to leave his post and not make 'any detrimental or derogatory statements' about Sheffield or its employees. For several years, Blumsohn had been complaining of scientific misconduct.

Main Source: 
Slate, December 22, 2005

Giving Up the Ghostwriters

by Diane Farsetta — December 13, 2005 - 2:12pm

"Many of the articles that appear in scientific journals under the byline of prominent academics are actually written by ghostwriters in the pay of drug companies." Used by doctors "to guide their care of patients," these "seemingly objective articles ... are often part of a marketing campaign." The New England Journal of Medicine recently revealed that a 2000 article on Vioxx "omitted information about heart attacks among patients taking the drug.

Main Source: 
Wall Street Journal (sub req'd), December 13, 2005

Chocolate as Health Food

by Sheldon Rampton — November 7, 2005 - 7:42pm

Mars Inc., the candy company that makes Snickers bars, M&Ms and Dove chocolates, used to spend $1 million per year subsidizing a newsletter which claimed that eating chocolate could prevent cavities. Now it is funding research that says chocolate is good for your heart.

Main Source: 
PR Week, November 7, 2005 (Sub req'd.)

Still Doctoring the Facts

by Diane Farsetta — October 19, 2005 - 9:59am

"When American corporations come up against inconvenient science," writes Bill Hogan, "they call in the American Council on Science and Health." The group's medical / executive director, Dr. Gilbert Ross, has "defended the Wood Preservative Science Council, saying ...

Main Source: 
Mother Jones magazine, November / December 2005

Industry Lobbyist Blows Smoke For Medical Marijuana Advocates

by Laura Miller — July 19, 2005 - 5:21pm

Jim Tozzi, the industry friendly lobbyist who helped create the little-known "Data Quality Act," is offering his assistance to medical marijuana advocates who are using the Act to undermine government claims that marijuana has no accepted medical value.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, July 18, 2005

Manufacturing Uncertainty, Part II

by Laura Miller — June 24, 2005 - 2:47pm

"By definition, uncertainties abound in our work; there's nothing to be done about that," writes David Michaels about scientists studying epidemiology and climate change. Michaels is a professor at George Washington University School of Public Health, working on occupational disease, and served as an assistant secretary of Energy between 1998 and 2001. "Our public health and environmental protection programs will not be effective if absolute proof is required before we act. The best available evidence must be sufficient. Otherwise, we'll sit on our hands and do nothing.

Main Source: 
Los Angeles Times, June 24, 2005
Syndicate content