Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6976

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.
Hospital denies that withdrawal of MD's job offer was related to drug-company funding
Canadian Medical Association Journal 2001 Jun 16; 164:(13):1879

Abstract:

The News item refers to the withdrawal of a job offer made to University of Wales psychiatrist Dr David Healy by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, a teaching facility of the University of Toronto a week after his November 30 lecture at CAMH. Its chief executive officer Dr Paul Garfinkel insists that this was because Healy had expressed extreme views incompatible with the scientific evidence and not related to the fact that fluoxetine manufacturer Eli Lilly has been a major financial supporter of the centre. Healy contended that fluoxetine induces ‘intense suicidal preoccupation in some patients and that Eli Lilly has an obligation to conduct a clinical trial to determine which patients are best suited to receive fluoxetine. His position has not changed since he was first approached. Garfinkel says Healy’s statements during the talk were “more extreme” than ones he had made before. In an April 20, 2001 letter, Physician-in-Chief Dr David Goldbloom also argues that Healy’s views had changed. The incident was first reported in the Globe and Mail in mid-April. Healy said he decided to go public because others, aware of the events, asked ‘whether it is safe to say something [critical] about pharmaceutical companies’. A critical review by the Guardian newspaper is quoted.

Keywords:
*news story/Canada/