Avalanches, Air Pockets, and Advertisements

Article Abstract:

The editors of JAMA state that the name of the journal and the name of the American Medical Association must not appear on any advertising for any medical device even if an article evaluating the device is published in JAMA. The May 3, 2000 issue includes an evaluation of a device that may extend the survival of avalanche victims. When tested on 8 volunteers, it extended the time they were able to breathe adequate oxygen from 10 minutes to one hour. The study was sponsored by the device's manufacturer and the principle investigator is the inventor of the device.

Health aspects, Avalanches

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Editors and advertisements: What responsibility do editors have for the advertisements in their journals?

Article Abstract:

The fact of advertisements by drug companies appearing in medical journals deserves careful ethical evaluation, since the target of the ads - the physician - is not the person who pays for the drugs. Questions arise concerning the role of journal editors in accepting drug advertisements. Editors' acceptance of these offerings is similar to physicians' acceptance of gifts from drug companies, and some methods are outlined concerning how editors could prevent conflicts between their roles of evaluating clinical research (a scientific endeavor) and accepting advertising revenues (which pay their salaries). Clinical journals can be separated into two categories: those that are peer-reviewed and owned by medical societies, and those that are not peer-reviewed and are sent to the physician without charge (controlled circulation, or ''throw-aways''). The former contain more text than advertisements and publish original research; the latter have more ads than text, and generally publish review articles. Editorial problems arise in connection with peer-reviewed journals. Physicians are always free to refuse gifts from drug companies; and some gifts (pens, notepads, modest meals) are more acceptable than others (expensive ones). Editors must evaluate whether their actions would benefit themselves, their journal and its readers, or patients. At the same time, they rarely exert total control over advertisers; more often, the association that owns the journal makes these decisions and gains money from the advertising. Associations, not editors, would have to decide to regulate advertisers. Other aspects of the relationship between advertisers and editors are described. Analogies between the physician-advertiser relationship and the journal editor-advertiser relationship are not entirely appropriate. Certainly the gifts by drug companies to physicians are not trivial: it has been calculated that $8,000 per physician per year is spent in promotional activities. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Pharmaceutical industry, Advertising, Journalism, Medical, Medical journalism, editorial

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The need for regulation of dietary supplements -- lessons from ephedra

Article Abstract:

Dietary supplements should be subjected to the same regulations as drugs are in order to protect the public's health. One example is ephedra, which is marketed as a weight loss product and athletic performance enhancer. There is no good evidence it is effective for these purposes and it can have serious adverse effects. Dietary supplements that affect the body should be considered drugs and those that do not should not be promoted as health products.

Legal issues & crime, Government regulation (cont), Government regulation, Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing, Legal/Government Regulation, Nutrient Preparations, Editorial, Laws, regulations and rules, Complications and side effects, Dietary supplements, Ephedra

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