Every summer Iowa, which is full of small lakes, is full of fisherman, boys and dads desperate to catch the next big one. Often, when one catches the “big one” they get their picture in the local paper and bragging rights for some time.
But what if you went fishing at Fisher Lake or Big Woods Lake in Cedar Rapids Iowa, would you call the news papers ahead of time and say “Hey, I am not sure if there is a big fish in this lake, but if there is one, I am going to catch it.” Would the Cedar Rapids Gazette print this story? I doubt it.
Well, it seems that summer is also a time for Senator Grassley to go fishing as well, this time for any fish he can find. Rather than waiting to catch the fish, he is sending copies of pre fishing reports (exploratory letters), to the New York Times which is now in the business of writing pre-fishing articles and they are more than happy to oblige him with a story about his fishing expedition. Psychiatric Group Faces Scrutiny Over Drug Industry Ties.
Now, usually you wait until you at least have a bite before you go off and talk about how you almost caught the big one, but not in this case.
In this case, Senator Grassley is taking on the American Psychiatric Association in a letter apparently asking for a full accounting of all the commercial support they have received over the last few years and their incoming president Alan F. Schatzberg, MD, the chairman of Psychiatry at Stanford University.
In his letter to the APA, Senator Grassley states: “Based on reporting in the New York Times”, I have come to understand that money from the pharmaceutical industry can shape the practices of nonprofit organizations that purport to be independent in their viewpoints and actions.” Charities Tied to Doctors Get Drug Industry Gifts
The Times failed to quote the beginning for their article “Based on reporting in the New York Times”
(Wait a minute, this is a hall of mirrors: Senator Grassley sends the New York Times press releases about the evils of doctors and organizations, the New York Times prints the senators stories, then he can say in letters “Based on articles in the New York Times” and get that same sentence quoted again in the New York Times……)
The Senator wants an accounting of industry funding that pharmaceutical companies and/or foundations established by these companies have provided to the American Psychiatric Association (APA) (the term “industry funding” means any transfer of value from a pharmaceutical company, included but not limited to grants, donations, and sponsorship for meetings or programs, ect.) from January 2003 to present.
He has requested this in chart form (to make it easy for the reporters to understand), by annual amount including – year, name of company, amount of funding and reason(s) the funding was provided.
He also requested a description of their policies for accepting industry funding, and whether or not the APA allows companies to place restrictions or provide guidance on how the monies will be spent.
If there were any restrictions, then provide the restrictions and guidance for each transfer of value.
So why go after the APA. His investigation of Psychiatry has been ongoing involving 20 intuitions. It seems to be centered on two types of drugs: pediatric indications for ADHD and experimental therapies such as mifepristione (RU-486) for depression.
The Times story noted that Psychiatrist make significantly less than other specialists, about $8,000/year more than a Internist, and they used the data from Vermont disclosure laws to justify going after psychiatry as they are currently heavily involved in consulting and speaking.
The APA has sent Email to APA Members that they decided in March to review the whole concept of commercial support.
Could part of this be that the Senator was embarrassed that Dr. Schatzberg has done nothing unethical in the sight of Stanford, the APA, and NIH.
I am not sure that shaming medical associations on the pages of the New York Times before you get the facts, serves anyone other than the egos of those involved. Having worked with dozens of medical societies, it is clear that their leadership are filled with dedicated physicians who strive to do the best for their patients. Challenging these associations ethics before you get the facts is no way treated the years of hard work and dedication they have exibited.
There is something unkind about this tactic. His colleagues in the senate should ask for these types of inquires to be conducted in a civil tone, getting the facts prior to press releases and public shaming.
And perhaps we can get back to catching some real fish in Iowa.
Important Links:
Senator Grassley: Letter to the American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association: Email to APA Members
WSJ Blog: Grassley Targets Psychiatric Association for Industry Ties
New York Times: Psychiatric Group Faces Scrutiny Over Drug Industry Ties
New York Times Charities Tied to Doctors Get Drug Industry Gifts (Charity Article June 2006, Quoted by Senator Grassley):
Pharmalot: Grassley Probes Psychiatrists Over Ties To Pharma
Policy and Medicine: Letters from Senator Grassley: A Scarlet Letter