Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19064

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

Iheanacho I
Drug Tales and Other Stories: Definitely not acceptable: drug company sues journal over review
BMJ 2011 Feb 1; 342:
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.d602.extract

Abstract:

With a dismissive kick a cartoon man in a ridiculous hat sends a small drug capsule flying. Questionable frivolity in a serious medical publication, some might say. But they’d be wrong. Trivial as it may look, this iconic image makes a crucial point.

It’s the device used by France’s La Revue Prescrire (and its English language sister Prescrire International) to tag a therapeutic product as “not acceptable”—in other words “without evident benefit but with real or potential disadvantages.” And it’s just the lowest of seven potential ratings. For example, at the other extreme there’s “bravo,” where the man …