BMJ 2013;347:f6733 doi: 10.1136/bmj.f6733 (Published 19 November 2013)
Page 1 of 1
Letters
LETTERS JOURNAL POLICY ON TOBACCO FUNDED RESEARCH
Why ban tobacco funded research but not research funded by other industries? John Buxton consultant gynaecological oncologist Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
Commercial organisations that fund research into their products will inevitably be accused of manipulating the results to suit their own interests.1 This accusation could reasonably be applied to many other groups, commercial or otherwise, with specific agendas.
I don’t condone the approach of the tobacco industry, but perhaps the editors should be more democratic and even handed when refusing to publish results. Why not include the alcohol industry, drug and devices manufacturers, even the government? Surely the key question is not who provides the funding but whether the development of the hypothesis, execution of the research and analysis, and publication are beyond their influence.
I think that the duty of an editorial team and peer reviewers is to satisfy themselves regarding the quality of the research and the integrity of the people submitting for publication. A blanket ban on research resulting from particular funding streams will not achieve this and may perversely inhibit legitimate investigation. Competing interests: None declared. 1
Godlee F, Malone R, Timmis A, Otto C, Bush A, Pavord I, et al. Journal policy on research funded by the tobacco industry. BMJ 2013;347:f5193. (15 October.)
Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f6733 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2013
[email protected] For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
Page 1 of 1
Letters
LETTERS JOURNAL POLICY ON TOBACCO FUNDED RESEARCH
Why ban tobacco funded research but not research funded by other industries? John Buxton consultant gynaecological oncologist Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK
Commercial organisations that fund research into their products will inevitably be accused of manipulating the results to suit their own interests.1 This accusation could reasonably be applied to many other groups, commercial or otherwise, with specific agendas.
I don’t condone the approach of the tobacco industry, but perhaps the editors should be more democratic and even handed when refusing to publish results. Why not include the alcohol industry, drug and devices manufacturers, even the government? Surely the key question is not who provides the funding but whether the development of the hypothesis, execution of the research and analysis, and publication are beyond their influence.
I think that the duty of an editorial team and peer reviewers is to satisfy themselves regarding the quality of the research and the integrity of the people submitting for publication. A blanket ban on research resulting from particular funding streams will not achieve this and may perversely inhibit legitimate investigation. Competing interests: None declared. 1
Godlee F, Malone R, Timmis A, Otto C, Bush A, Pavord I, et al. Journal policy on research funded by the tobacco industry. BMJ 2013;347:f5193. (15 October.)
Cite this as: BMJ 2013;347:f6733 © BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 2013
[email protected] For personal use only: See rights and reprints http://www.bmj.com/permissions
Subscribe: http://www.bmj.com/subscribe
