Taking Drug Money
Here’s another story – Powerful proponent of psychiatric drugs for children primed for a fall — about the problems with MDs taking money from Big Pharma, whether as researchers, guest lecturers at science conferences, etc. Dr Joseph Biederman, chief of the Massachusetts General Pediatric Psychopharmacology Clinic, is under investigation by Harvard University and the National Institutes of Health for not reporting fees he received from drug companies. In an ongoing trial, Biederman claims that
drug company dollars (declared and undeclared) have not influenced him or his research. He had agreed temporarily to sever most of his financial ties with the drug industry pending the outcome of the ongoing inquiry.
He claims his science and publications are pure, supported by a peer-review system that is supposed to verify accuracy and authenticity. Finally, he challenges as office gossip reports of his legendary anger and intolerance of those who disagree or don’t support his proposals.
Yet as the story goes on to note,
Virtually all researchers say they are not influenced by drug company money. Doctors rarely out-and-out lie about their research, but spin influences how a study is set up, its statistical analysis and interpretation. Research on drug studies repeatedly shows that drug trial results are tilted toward a positive description of the drug’s effects when the research is funded by a drug company rather than the government or an independent agency.
Big Pharma money is most powerful when promoting Biederman’s research and point of view over competing models. Drug companies copy and mail his important papers on psychiatric drugs to every American physician working with children. A member of the Biederman team is at every important meeting on children’s psychiatric issues and medical education. Their presence, and often the conference, itself, are supported by drug industry dollars.