CMA Fires Journal Editor

CMAJ questions if medical journals are doing enough to prevent fraudulent publication and publishes concerns about SSRI ads.

Update Feb 22 - The Toronto Star carries story further

The Canadian Medical Association fires Dr. John Hoey, editor of the Canadian Medical Association Journal for demanding editorial independance after battling for years on its importance - see CP for full story

Dr. Hoey was forced by the CMA not to publish a study that compromised women's rights to privacy from disclosures of pharmacists willing to disclose their identifying information on their willingness to purchase the morning after pill.

At a time when the editors of medical journals around the world are under ethical pressure to publish negative stories about medical research and their relationships with pharmaceutical companies this is a very poor step for the CMA and underscores their unwillingness to protect the public interest, to foster good medicine and fiduciary responsibility.

A class action lawsuit should be commenced against the CMA for compromising women's rights.