scientific

Scientific medical journals like JAMA fail basic credibility standards; medical journals become increasingly irrelevant

Thursday, August 19, 2004
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger
Editor of NaturalNews.com (See all articles...)

eTrust Pro Certified

Pin It
The Journal of the American Medical Association -- JAMA -- and other scientific medical journals have been caught red-handed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest for failing to disclose the financial relationships between study authors and companies that might benefit from such studies. For example, one author of a study published in JAMA that conducted research on kidney disease did not disclose that he is a consultant paid by Merck, Bristol-Meyers, Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, and Pfizer, all of which have products that could be marketed to the public based on the information presented in the study.

Here's how the con works: the study author receives cash from these pharmaceutical companies, gets his study published in a prestigious scientific journal, and then the drug companies can state that they are basing the marketing of their product on published, peer-reviewed scientific facts. The hidden fact in all of this, of course, is that the author of the study is on the payroll of these companies and didn't even bother to disclose that relationship to the journal. It's good old fashioned corruption... but with the stamp of approval from so-called "modern science."

It isn't just this one study, either -- a review of JAMA articles by the CSPI revealed that 11.3% of the articles reviewed had non-disclosed conflicts of interest. For a journal that claims to be presenting scientific truth in a non-biased way that is independent of pharmaceutical company influence, that's an alarmingly high number. And, of course, it's one of the reasons why these scientific journals are increasingly considered to be lacking in scientific credibility today. A number of journals were caught in the same study, revealing that this failure to disclose conflicts of interest is not merely something that happens at the American Medical Association, but something that is widespread in the conventional medical community.

None of this comes as a surprise to me, since I've been one of the most outspoken critics of scientific journals for many years. Too many of these journals are masquerading as stewards of good science -- they pretend to show articles that are well-researched, that are authored by people who have no financial interest in their publication, and that have been put through a rigorous quality control process known as peer review. But in fact what you often find in these journals is the exclusion of articles that talk about alternative therapies or pioneering therapies that compete with pharmaceutical profits. You also find a closed network of old school, closed-minded, conventional researchers and medical doctors who primarily use the journals to protect their own belief systems by only allowing the publication of articles that agree with their narrow beliefs. In that regard, it's more like a dogma or a religion than a scientific community.

Often, the so-called scientific truth presented by these journals is really just a relative truth that has been invented by a circle of influential doctors, researchers and journal editors who define scientific truth by choosing what to publish (and what to ignore). So, it is a rather obvious case of circular reasoning on their side. In other words, to put it more plainly, it's true if they say it is, and if they reject a paper, then it's not true. Scientific fact is whatever they tell you it should be.

But that philosophy stands at odds with true science. True science is based on a demonstrated curiosity about the way nature and the universe works. A true scientist would look at the relationships between the consumption of water and human health and they might ask, "What is the role of water in the human body?" Or they might look at plants and observe the miraculous nature of how plants are tiny pharmaceutical factories that convert vitamins and minerals, sunlight, and carbon dioxide into powerful medicinal compounds that can enhance human health. True scientists would look at the nature of relationships and how people who have more friends and engage in more social activities tend to live healthier, longer lives than those who don't. Those are the kinds of activities that true scientists pursue, because they are curious about the way the world works and how human beings can take advantage of natural laws in order to enhance their health and quality of life.

But those aren't the kinds of topics that these so-called conventional medical scientists pursue. They pursue topics like, "How do we cure cancer with nanotechnology?" or "How do we override the body's immune system and interfere with it using toxic chemicals that poison the body?" They might say, "How do we take this patented drug that nobody else can legally sell, and market it to the entire world by inventing a disease, such as social anxiety disorder, and then sell the drug at monopoly prices to people while confiscating imported generic versions of that drug from another country?" Those are the kinds of activities that many of today's conventional scientists, doctors and pharmaceutical executives pursue, and it's all one big school of people who are essentially serving their own interests while invoking -- in a blasphemous way -- so-called "science."

The bottom line to all of this is that the game is up -- these journals are starting to be exposed for their deceit and their lack of open-mindedness, as well as their failure to disclose the financial ties between authors and pharmaceutical companies that benefit from the publication of authors' studies.

And by the way, I almost forgot to mention that most of these scientific journals are, in fact, supported by advertising funds from pharmaceutical companies. So, you have a direct financial link from pharmaceutical companies to these journals, such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, and then you have the journals either neglecting, or even perhaps suppressing the disclosure of financial ties between authors of articles they publish and the very same pharmaceutical companies that are writing checks to the journals. I'm sure the American Medical Association realizes that publishing JAMA is a highly profitable business activity. It generates a lot of money, and one has to wonder about the priority of that money when you're standing in front of the pharmaceutical executive who's handing you a check for $100,000 or $1,000,000 (or some amount that's even larger).

Personally, I don't trust any scientific publication that survives based on advertising revenues from pharmaceutical companies. The conflict of interest is so obvious as to be utterly ridiculous -- the journals need to keep their financial lifelines alive, and that means supporting pharmaceutical companies that keep on sending them checks. In that kind of system, there is no such thing as credibility. You can't have an unbiased publication of any kind if you're dependent on advertising revenues paid directly to you by the very same companies you're supposed to be covering in the editorial content. These medical journals are, effectively, bought out by the financial interests of Big Pharma.

And, by the way, the whole concept of a medical journal is increasingly irrelevant these days anyway. Thanks to the internet and the launching of an open-source medical journal endeavor, we all have the capacity to participate in open databases of clinical studies. We don't need to be reading niche journals that are financed by pharmaceutical companies and still charge readers hundreds or thousands of dollars a year for access to their articles. What we need in this country is open, public access to all of the trials and studies that are being conducted, and we need a more open-minded, web-based journal system, where pioneering researchers and those who are engaged in activities outside conventional medicine can get solid, scientific work published, regardless of whether it threatens the profits of drug companies.

Get breaking news alerts on GMOs, fluoride, superfoods, natural cures and more...
Join over four million monthly readers. Email privacy 100% protected. Unsubscribe at any time.

Articles Related to This Article:

Evidence-based vaccinations: A scientific look at the missing science behind flu season vaccines

As cold fusion events demonstrate, modern science is ruled by conformity, not the search for scientific truth

Merck Engaged in Blatant Scientific Fraud with Vytorin Cholesterol Study? (opinion)

Celebrities are Smarter than "Skeptical Scientists" When it Comes to Health Literacy

The downfall of science and the rise of intellectual tyranny

Big Pharma researcher admits to faking dozens of research studies for Pfizer, Merck (opinion)

Related video from NaturalNews.TV


Your NaturalNews.TV video could be here.
Upload your own videos at NaturalNews.TV (FREE)



About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health researcher, author and award-winning journalist with a strong interest in personal health, the environment and the power of nature to help us all heal He has authored more than 1,800 articles and dozens of reports, guides and interviews on natural health topics, and he has authored and published several downloadable personal preparedness courses including a downloadable course focused on safety and self defense. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams created TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also a noted pioneer in the email marketing software industry, having been the first to launch an HTML email newsletter technology that has grown to become a standard in the industry. Adams is currently the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a 501(c)3 non-profit, and pursues hobbies such as martial arts, Capoeira, nature macrophotography and organic gardening.

Have comments on this article? Post them here:

 people have commented on this article.

Related Articles:

Evidence-based vaccinations: A scientific look at the missing science behind flu season vaccines

As cold fusion events demonstrate, modern science is ruled by conformity, not the search for scientific truth

Merck Engaged in Blatant Scientific Fraud with Vytorin Cholesterol Study? (opinion)

Celebrities are Smarter than "Skeptical Scientists" When it Comes to Health Literacy

The downfall of science and the rise of intellectual tyranny

Big Pharma researcher admits to faking dozens of research studies for Pfizer, Merck (opinion)

Take Action: Support NaturalNews.com

Email this article to a friend

Permalink to this article:

Reprinting this article: Non-commercial use OK, cite NaturalNews.com with clickable link.

Embed article link: (copy HTML code below):
Most Popular
Today | Week | Month | Year

See all Top Headlines...



Now Available at ShopNaturalNews.com

O3 Essentials OraJuvenate™
A powerful, cleansing dental cream for maximum oral/dental health.
New Cancer Solutions
Over 3 hours of content covering today’s best cancer tests, how to kill cancer cells and the best diets and exercise routines.
Freeze-Dried 100% Organic Whole Corn
Our freeze-drying method preserves taste, texture and nutrients better than any other food preservation method ever invented.
Fenix TK35 Flashlight
Tough, waterproof, extremely bright and it’s touted to throw an 800+ lumen beam more than 1,000 feet into the night.
Inca Treasure Smoothie Pack
This pack of our four most popular superfoods from South America is the perfect combo pack for smoothie lovers.
Pink Himalayan Salt
This salt delivers significant levels of magnesium, zinc and selenium, with trace levels of dozens of other elements.
Pinhole Glasses - Aviator Style
Pinhole glasses are becoming famous for helping people improve their vision without the risks of laser surgery.
Oxy-Rich Facial Serum
O3 Essentials Jojoba Oxy-Rich Facial Serum is cellular nourishment for your skin. Helps smooth fine lines while enhancing tissue elasticity.
Freeze-Dried 100% Blackberry Halves
Our freeze-dried blackberry halves are grown in Serbia under strict organic standards.

Also on NaturalNews:

Health Ranger Videos
Activist music
CounterThink Cartoons
Food documentaries
FREE Special Reports
Podcasts

Advertise with NaturalNews...

Support NaturalNews Sponsors:

Advertise with NaturalNews...

Most Popular Stories

Dear Donald Trump: Blockade the lying mainstream media and recognize the independent media as America's real free press
Kellogg's found to have financial ties to the money man for cop-killing left-wing HATE groups: George Soros

25 Amazing Facts About Food

This FREE downloadable report unveils a collection of astonishing and little-known facts about the food we eat very day. Click here to read it now...

 

Resveratrol and its Effects on Human Health and Longevity - Myth or Miracle.

Unlock the secrets of cellular health with the "miracle" nutrient Resveratrol Click here to read it now...

 

Nutrition Can Save America

FREE online report shows how we can save America through a nutrition health care revolution. "Eating healthy is patriotic!" Click here to read it now...

The Healing Power of Sunlight and Vitamin D

In this exclusive interview, Dr. Michael Holick reveals fascinating facts on how vitamin D is created and used in the human body to ward off chronic diseases like cancer, osteoporosis, mental disorders and more. Click here to read it now...

Vaccines: Get the Full Story

The International Medical Council on Vaccination has released, exclusively through NaturalNews.com, a groundbreaking document containing the signatures of physicians, brain surgeons and professors, all of which have signed on to a document stating that vaccines pose a significant risk of harm to the health of children. Click here to read it now...

Health Ranger Storable Organics

GMO-free, chemical-free foods and superfoods for long-term storage and preparedness. See selection at www.StorableOrganics.com



Recommended Resources On:

Natural News trends
Health Ranger news
Natural News GMOs
Mike Adams tracker
Natural News photos
Natural News Global
Natural News in focus
Natural News connect
Natural News shocking stories
Natural News radar
GMOs
Quackwatch
Vaccines
Health freedom
Dr. Paul Offit

This site is part of the Natural News Network © 2014 All Rights Reserved. Privacy | Terms All content posted on this site is commentary or opinion and is protected under Free Speech. Truth Publishing International, LTD. is not responsible for content written by contributing authors. The information on this site is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice of any kind. Truth Publishing assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of this material. Your use of this website indicates your agreement to these terms and those published here. All trademarks, registered trademarks and servicemarks mentioned on this site are the property of their respective owners.

eTrust Pro Certified Android app on Google Play