BMJ & Lancet Wedded to Merck CME Partnership

[Guest guest]

From: veracare@...

Infomail1@...

CC: richard.horton@..., fgodlee@...

Sent: 2/14/2011 10:33:45 A.M. Pacific Standard Time

Subj: BMJ & Lancet Wedded to Merck CME Partnership

Alliance for Human Research Protection

A Catalyst for Debate

www.ahrp.org

FYI

Is it just conceivably possible, that the BMJ's decision to

commission and

publish Deer's series of articles attacking Dr.

Wakefield's

personal and scientific integrity--without giving him an opportunity

to

defend himself--and to lend its unwavering editorial endorsement to

the

charges--might be influenced by a SIGNIFICANT financial conflict

of

interest?

In 2008, the pharmaceutical giant, Merck, signed a partnership

agreement

with the BMJ Group that effectively gave the company control of

350

interactive continuing medical education courses in over 20 medical

therapy

areas?

In 2009, The Lancet also entered into a Merck partnership.

" This unique partnership will change the face of medical

education in Europe

and beyond, allowing users access to most of BMJ Learning's library

of

'Continuing Medical Education' (CME) and 'Continuing

Professional

Development' (CPD) content. "

See:

http://www.thefreelibrary.com/MSD+Signs+Partnership+With+BMJ+Group.-a0180213953

Why did the BMJ conceal from readers--of both the Deer series and the

BMJ

editorial excoriating Dr. Wakefield, charging him with

deliberate

fraud and financial conflict of interest--the fact that the BMJ had

a

partnership with Merck, manufacturer of 13 vaccines--including the

MMR

vaccine, which is at the center of the Wakefield controversy?

The BMJ editorial accompanying Deer's articles, did its best to

lend

authority to the vaccine industry (Merck's) perspective. In an

introductory

sound bite the editors declare:

" Clear evidence of falsification of data should now close the

door on this

damaging vaccine scare. "

Read more....

http://www.ahrp.org/cms/content/view/766/9/

Contact: Vera Hassner Sharav

veracare@...

212-595-8974