Of Sophists and Spin-Doctors: Industry-Sponsored Ghostwriting and the Crisis of Academic Medicine
Journal Title: Mens Sana Monographs - Year 2010, Vol 8, Issue 1
Abstract
Ghostwriting for medical journals has become a major, but largely invisible, factor contributing to the problem of credibility in academic medicine. In this paper I argue that the pharmaceutical marketing objectives and use of medical communication firms in the production of ghostwritten articles constitute a new form of sophistry. After identifying three distinct types of medical ghostwriting, I survey the known cases of ghostwriting in the literature and explain the harm done to academic medicine and to patients. Finally, I outline steps to address the problem and restore the integrity of the medical literature.
Authors and Affiliations
Leemon McHenry
Keywords
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- EP ID EP84658
- DOI 10.4103/0973-1229.58824
- Views 133
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