Scotsman.com News - Health - Ex-medical journal editor reveals drug firms' dirty tricks

IAN JOHNSTON
SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT

"PHARMACEUTICAL companies are using their massive financial clout to corrupt medical journals by rigging clinical trials of new drugs, it was claimed today.

Richard Smith, former editor of the British Medical Journal (BMJ), has exposed a series of tricks used by drug firms to ensure good publicity for new products in prestigious journals. He said it was often impossible for editors of the journals to spot a rigged trial - despite the process of 'peer review' where research is checked independently - and also highlighted a 'conflict of interest' because publishing trials by major drug companies would result in increased sales."
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FDA ALERT re: Cytotec

Misoprostol (marketed as Cytotec) Information: "Misoprostol (marketed as Cytotec) Information

FDA ALERT – Risks of Use in Labor and Delivery

This Patient Information Sheet is for pregnant women who may receive misoprostol to soften their cervix or induce contractions to begin labor. Misoprostol is sometimes used to decrease blood loss after delivery of a baby. These uses are not approved by the FDA. No company has sent the FDA scientific proof that misoprostol is safe and effective for these uses.

There can be serious side effects, including a torn uterus (womb), when misoprostol is used for labor and delivery. A torn uterus may result in severe bleeding, having the uterus removed (hysterectomy), and death of the mother or baby. These side effects are more likely in women who have had previous uterine surgery, a previous Cesarean delivery (C-section), or several previous births.

This information reflects FDA’s preliminary analysis of data concerning this drug. FDA is considering, but has not reached a final conclusion about, this information. FDA intends to update this sheet when additional information or analyses become available."

State: Patients' rights law narrowed

State: Patients' rights law narrowed: "Supporters of the patients' right to know amendment passed by voters in November promised it would allow Floridians to compare hospitals, finding out which had higher infection rates or made careless surgery errors.

Not anymore. And that has backers threatening to go to court."

Nurses who took part in a rally for patient rights have been suspended.

Nurses who took part in a rally for patient rights have been suspended.: "Nurses who took part in a rally for patient rights have been suspended.
Posted 5/2/2005 02:44 PM

A group of nine nurses from BAR-H in Beckley took part in what they said was an educational rally last Wednesday.

Story by Liz Kravitz Email | Bio

Last week nurses were standing on the side of the road in Beckley letting people know about their concerns.

59 News spoke with Bill Riggs from the Kentucky Nurses association, the group that organized the event.

He says the nurses were educating the community about nurses concerns that adequate staffing and safe patient care was not being responded to by Beckley A-R-H management.

Now Riggs is filing charges with the National Labor Board.

He says the nurses are being punished for standing up for their patients.

And, he claims the suspension is illegal.

'The contract says that the employer may take disciplinary measures against anyone for a just cause. Certainly there was no just cause here because there was no violation of the agreement there was no violation of our contract in any way. In fact the violation occur when the nurses are not put in a safe patient care environment and we have filed grievances over that issue.' says Bill Riggs.

Riggs says after months of meetings and communication with A-R-H about the problem, inadequate staffing still exists.

He says they will continue to advocate for patient care.

In a statement from ARH, CEO Rocco Massey says, 'Its ARH's standard to remain within its collective bargaining agreements and personnel policies. In order to protect the integrity of the unions, the employees involved and ARH, it is our policy not to discuss these issues publicly. Ongoing dialogue between ARH and the Kentucky and West Virginia Nurses associations continues.'"