CardioExchange Archive

May 9th, 2013

Journal X: Not so Subtle Marketing Messages

Eric Lindley, MD

My 3-year-old daughter helps me see the influence of pharma on research.

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March 6th, 2013

The Influence of Medical School Gift Restrictions on Doctors’ Prescription Decisions

Joseph S. Ross, MD, MHS and John Ryan, MD

A new study found that gift restrictions in medical schools resulted in graduates writing fewer prescriptions of newly marketed psychiatric medications compared with older, less expensive alternatives. Might this also translate to cardiovascular agents?

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February 12th, 2013

Conflict Of Interest Is A Complex Issue

Robert McKinnon Califf, MD and Harlan M. Krumholz, MD, SM

In a recent editorial in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Robert Califf discusses a few of the many complex questions related to the conflict of interest issue. Here CardioExchange’s Harlan Krumholz further explores the issue with Califf. CardioExchange: Do you think that conflict of interest issues are mostly an issue about optics and not […]

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February 5th, 2013

The Sun Is About to Shine

Joseph S. Ross, MD, MHS

Will the Physician Payment Sunshine Act help to prevent conflict of interest or will it limit good science?

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August 20th, 2012

Why Is the National Library of Medicine Still Indexing Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine?

Kevin Lomangino, BA

Kevin Lomangino asks why the curator of PubMed continues to index Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine after the journal engaged in questionable editorial practices that promote commercial interests.

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August 13th, 2012

Universal Screening for Dyslipidemia in Children: A Debate with Equipoise, but Tarnished by Industry Influence

William O Roberts, MD, MS

James H. Stein, MD sounds a clarion about the influence of the medical industry on the debate over whether children should be universally screened for dyslipidemia, as recommended by recent guidelines.

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August 13th, 2012

Industry PR Efforts Influence Debate On Cholesterol Screening Guidelines For Children

Larry Husten, PHD

Should a public relations agency that represents a company with a product that would be affected by a guideline offer journalists a chance to interview an expert who has views that might benefit the company?

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March 12th, 2012

5 Ways CME Misses the Mark

Behnood Bikdeli, M.D.

Some people critique Continuous Medical Education (CME) programs as spoon-feeding. As a young physician struggling to learn a lot of material, I actually appreciate a bit of ready-to-consume content that I can learn quickly and effectively. The American College of Cardiology (ACC) and other reputable institutions provide CME programs that, overall, help to keep physicians […]

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June 1st, 2011

More Questions Raised About Biotronik’s Relationships with Cardiologists

Larry Husten, PHD

A story by Barry Meier in the New York Times provides new details about a widening investigation into the suspiciously close relationship of referring cardiologists and implanting electrophysiologists with the upstart heart device manufacturer Biotronik. The story cites examples of exchanges between Biotronik employees and their dealings with the physicians. According to Meier, the company […]

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May 13th, 2011

ProPublica Takes Aim at SCAI

Larry Husten, PHD

Now it’s SCAI’s turn. Following its investigation of the Heart Rhythm Society’s ties to industry last week, ProPublica has now focused its attention on the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (SCAI). In the latest installment of ProPublica’s Dollars for Doctors series, Charles Ornstein writes that SCAI “received 57 percent of its revenues in 2009 […]

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