Reply #4: Their rationalization makes no sense. [View All]

[Spirit Blooms]

I would think that any anti-trust question lies in the opposite direction, that if they don't disclose financial interests, they're helping further the collusion of business interests in promoting an opinion as objective when it's not. I see a distinct conflict of interest here.

Many TV news shows that cover investing ask those making recommendations to state whether they have any interest in the stock they're discussing. The laws may be different for stocks, but the situational ethics appear the same to me, when one considers the scientific nature of the journal and that good science news reporting requires objectivity.

I wonder if physicians will complain to JAMA about this. I hope so. Don't they rely on it for the latest objective information? Have drug companies now taken over the entire medical establishment? If so I'll have to think twice about even going to a doctor. Do I want to pay to entrust my health to someone who's simply an instrument of a drug company? Their financial motivation to prescribe drugs might be stronger than that to keep me well.