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LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Ethics, Marketing, and the Medical Literature

Editor-in-Chief, Anesthesia & Analgesia, sshafer{at}anesthesia-analgesia.org

In Response:

A considerable discussion has arisen (1–5) regarding the failure by Meyer and colleagues (6) to disclose the corporate affiliation of Dr. McLeskey in their manuscript comparing dolasetron with ondansetron. Anesthesia & Analgesia is at least partly responsible for this. The final draft of the manuscript submitted to our office on 8/24/2004 listed Dr. McLeskey’s affiliation as: "Dr. McLeskey was Chairman of the Department of Anesthesiology at Scott and White at the time of the study; currently Global Medical Director for Abbott Laboratories, Abbot (sic) Park, IL" As noted in a subsequent erratum (7), Dr. McLeskey’s current position at Abbott was removed during the copyediting process without explicitly clearing it with Dr. Meyer. On behalf of Anesthesia & Analgesia, I apologize to Drs. Meyer and colleagues for creating the appearance of hiding Dr. McLeskey’s affiliation, when it had, in fact, been properly disclosed in their submission.

It is essential that all individuals who contribute intellectually to a manuscript be properly acknowledged. Many studies are joint collaborations between scientists in industry and academia. Intellectual contributions are not diminished by affiliation with a study sponsor. Failure to acknowledge intellectual contributions by colleagues from industry is unfair to them, and it hides from readers possible intellectual bias that might exist in the study design and analysis. It is only fair to our colleagues in industry and our readers that the intellectual contributions of industry colleagues be acknowledged, either as coauthors or in a separate acknowledgment, and that potential conflict of interest be disclosed for all authors. It appears that this requirement was met by Dr. Meyer and colleagues, who provided the journal with full disclosure of Dr. McLeskey’s intellectual contribution and his subsequent senior managerial role with Abbott Laboratories.

References

1. White PF. Treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting with dolasetron versus ondansetron: is there a conflict of interest? Anesth Analg 2005;101:1887.[Free Full Text]
2. Roberson CR, Meyer TA. In response. Anesth Analg 2005;101:1887–8.[Free Full Text]
3. Mychaskiw G, Badr AE, Calimaran AM. Ethics, marketing and the medical literature. Anesth Analg 2006;103:488.[Free Full Text]
4. White PF. In response. Anesth Analg 2006;103:488–9.[Free Full Text]
5. Meyer TA, Roberson CR. In response. Anesth Analg 2006;103:489.[Free Full Text]
6. Meyer TA, Roberson CR, Rajab MH, Davis J, McLeskey CH. Dolasetron versus ondansetron for the treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Anesth Analg 2005;100:373–7.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
7. Erratum. Anesth Analg 2005;101:43.[Free Full Text]

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