Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18125

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Silversides A
Trials and tribulation as research moves into the community
CMAJ 2003 Jun 12;
http://www.cmaj.ca/news/12_06_03.dtl

Abstract:

Doctors and the medical profession are facing some troubling issues as clinical trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry migrate from academic settings into the community. The issue of industry-sponsored clinical trials is “a bit of a hornet’s nest,” says Dr. David Naylor, dean of medicine at the University of Toronto. “How to stay on top of perverse incentives and hidden conflicts of interest is a constantly moving target.”

But while academic centres struggle to tighten safeguards to ensure the integrity and independence of the research endeavour – the U of T has, for example, banned finders’ fees and completion fees for doctors recruiting patients for trials – observers say most of the action has already shifted away from universities.