Monday, July 10, 2006

Aubrey Blumsohn Joins the Blogsphere

We have posted several times (most recently here, with links backward) about the story of Dr Aubrey Blumsohn's dispute with Proctor and Gamble (P&G) and Sheffield University in the UK. In summary, Blumsohn and Professor Richard Eastell had done clinical research on the risedronate (Actonel), sponsored by P&G, the drug's manufacturer. P&G refused Blumsohn access to the original data from the study he was ostensibly running, and hired a ghost-writer to write abstracts in his name. Blumsohn protested to Eastell, who advised him not to make waves because P&G "is a good source of income" for the university. When protests to other university officials produced no results, Blumsohn told the story to the press, whereupon the university suspended him.

Dr Blumsohn has now joined the blogsphere. His effort is entitled the "Scientific Misconduct Blog." Based on his upclose and personal experience with concentration and abuse of power in health care, I'm sure he will have some interesting and perceptive things to say. Stay tuned.

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