From:Prof. Walter Wolf wwolfw@usc.edu
Subject: What is the BMJ thinking?
Dear Dr. Godlee:
Could you please explain what the BMJ is thinking?
Your vision and mission statement reads:
*Vision
To be the world’s most influential and widely read medical journal.
*Mission *
To lead the debate on health, and to engage, inform, and stimulate doctors, researchers and other health professionals in ways that will improve outcomes for patients.
Could you please explain in what way does the current poll you are conducting on whether to consider a boycott of Israeli academic institutions have any relation whatsoever with your vision or
mission?
Let me suggest that even lending any academic veneer to such an unacceptable idea may have forever compromised everything that the BMJ claims to stand for.
It is sad when once venerable institutions loose their standing.
Professor Walter Wolf, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Director, Pharmacokinetic Imaging Program
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy
Chair, Biomedical Imaging Science Initiative
University of Southern California
1985 Zonal Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90089-9121
E-Mail: wwolfw@usc.edu
Telephone: 323-442-1405
Fax: 323-442-9804
http://www.usc.edu/research/initiatives/bisi/
http://www.usc.edu/schools/pharmacy/faculty_directory/detail.php?id=59
Fiona Godlee wrote on Tue, 24 Jul 2007 18:08:10 +0100:
Dear Professor Wolf, Thank you for your message. The BMJ commissioned this debate as being of current interest and something that has the potential to affect our readers and authors around the world. We have endeavoured to achieve a balance in the two articles on either side of the debate, as we do with all debates we publish, and we are asking readers to give their views in the best traditions of free speech and transparency. The votes and comments are available online for readers to review. I hope you will join the debate, either by voting in the poll or sending a rapid response via bmj.com. With best wishes, Fiona Godlee
Dr Fiona Godlee FRCP
Editor in chief, BMJ
BMJ Group
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JR
Telephone +44 (0)207 383 6002/+44 (0)1223 363954
Personal Assistant Julia Burrell
jburrell@bmj.com
Telephone +44 207 383 6102
Fax +44 207 383 6418
Dear Dr. Godlee:
Let me explain in more detail the reasons for my concern. The editorial you mention below is from 2003 (“Some politics: against academic boycotts and for cheap drugs”, BMJ 2003;326,4 January). Hence, it is likely that few people may remember what was in such an editorial 4 years ago, and it would have been very appropriate if this message would have been repeated when you developed this poll.
It would be extremely disturbing if the BMJ would even consider an article whose methodology would be so flawed as this poll was. You allowed anyone to log in, and had no control on their input: I happen to notice that several Yes votes came in immediate succession, all allegedly different categories and countries, and yet, all from the same IP address!! The design of the poll did not meet the any degree of quality, and all it could achieve was a forum to vent the antisemitism of the submitters.
Conducting discussions on social and political issues is highly commendable, but only if it is done in a scientifically and ethical manner. Otherwise, it is both meaningless and probably damaging.
If indeed the BMJ has a policy to hold regular debates on contentious issue, you must make public what are the criteria for selecting those topics, what quality control is placed on the wording of the questions so as not to influence and bias the outcome, and what quality
control is placed on participation.
One of the pivotal principles of medicine is “do no harm”. Can you honestly say you have observed that principle?
Prof. Walter Wolf” wwolfw@usc.edu
Sent by: wwolfw@usc.edu
27/07/2007 16:50
Please respond to
wwolfw@usc.edu
To Fiona Godlee < FGodlee@bmj.com >
Subject Re: What is the BMJ thinking?
Dear Dr. Godlee:
The very fact that the BMJ commissioned this debate is extremely disturbing, and suggests that certain sectors or persons within the BMJ do have a political agenda, which would put these actions in direct contradiction to its stated mission and vision.
No, this is not an academic debate. As I indicated in my original message (see below): even lending any academic veneer to such an unacceptable idea may have forever compromised everything that the BMJ claims to stand for.
I believe that the BMJ has committed a gross ethical violation, and I am asking that in addition this message also be forwarded to the leadership of the BMA in order to determine what amends and corrective actions the BMA/BMJ intends to follow up.
Fiona Godlee wrote on Fri, 27 Jul 2007 19:36:29 +0100:
Dear Professor Wolf,
I am concerned that you consider this an ethical violation. The BMJ did not initiate this debate. This is a live issue within the UK, being actively debated at trade union conferences by unions representing university academics and health workers as well as in the UK media. But it had not been openly debated within the medical academic community. The BMJ is on record as being against academic boycotts (http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/326/7379/0/g ) and this position remains unchanged. But doctors and medical academics are among those lobbying for a boycott and many are in turn being lobbied to take one side or another. The BMJ now holds regular debates for and against contentious positions and we took the view that BMJ readers should be given the opportunity to see the arguments on both sides of this debate and to contribute their views. The level of interest can be judged by the response. I do not see that this is an ethical violation.
I will of course pass your message on to the head of the BMA. I will also ask the BMJ’s ethics committee to examine the matter and make a judgement on it. I will make sure that you are informed of the outcome of this deliberation.
With best wishes, Fiona Godlee
Dr Fiona Godlee
Editor in chief, BMJ
BMJ Group
Tavistock Square
London WC1H 9JR
Telephone +44 (0)207 383 6002/+44 (0)1223 363954
Personal Assistant Julia Burrell
jburrell@bmj.com
Telephone +44 207 383 6102
Fax +44 207 383 6418
