Medical Research Transparency

The Boston Globe says peer-reviewed journals keep doctors informed of cutting-edge research, but conflicts of interest must be ferreted out. The editorial comes in the wake of a study which found that, of 32 physicians who received consulting fees of $1 million or more in 2007 from orthopedic medical device companies, 25 published articles in orthopedic-related journals during 2008 without disclosing their financial ties to industry. “It’s clear that all journals must do more to shed light on industry payments to the researchers whose work they publish.” “Journals must question would-be authors more intensely.”