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June 6, 2008:
Caribbean Ethics recently received the following information:
1. The practice of Ghost Writing in the pharmaceutical industry
is currently in the news. Here is a recent article:
"Guest Authorship and Ghostwriting in Publications Related to Rofecoxib:
A Case Study of Industry Documents From Rofecoxib Litigation"
The link to the article is : http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/299/15/1800,
and it can be accessed free.
Thanks to Swarna Bandara
2. Through the efforts of the Jamaica National Commission of UNESCO,
plans are well advanced for the launch of a National Bioethics Committee
for Jamaica. Watch for more news.
3. As a member of the IGBC of UNESCO Jamaica has joined the other
members in making comments on two recent Reports from the IBC of
UNESCO. The reports were those on Consent and Social responsibility
and Health. Both documents can be accessed on the UNESCO website at
For the consent document
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001505/150520e.pdf
and for the Social Responsibility document:
http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001505/150522e.pdf
March 24, 2008:
Caribbean Ethics received information that a large drug company was seeking to have a Journal divulge the name of reviewers of a published articles related to two of its products in order to assist them in their defense in pending litigation. The request has been resisted as has gone to court. Read more at the sites listed below.
From: Wall street journal with some comments:
http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2008/02/22/pfizer-wants-new-england-journal-to-cough-up-documents/
Science editorial on the same issues -
http://www.pharmalot.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/science_editorial.pdf
Comments on Science editorial :
http://www.pharmalot.com/2008/02/pfizer-seeks-confidential-medical-journal-files/?referer=sphere_related_content
News item on NEJM reviewer leaking the paper on Avandia Study to Glaxo:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120171519024629191.html?mod=sphere_wd
March 24, 2008:
Court Quashes Request for Peer-Review Documents - Follow up to original story (Thanks to Swarna Bandara, UWI Medical Library) - Journal successfully argues that Reviewers' comments must remain confidential - see story at the site -
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/314/1?etoc
November 17, 2007:
http://bioethicsdiscussion.blogspot.com - I came across the above website recently and found it very interesting. I also found the webmaster very responsive and helpful. Readers may want to explore it - go to the links page and click on the link.
November 17, 2007:
Jamaica was recently elected to a seat on the Intergovernmental Bioethics Committee (IGBC) of UNESCO. The election makes Jamaica the first English speaking territory from the Caribbean to be represented on the IGBC. The presence of Jamaica on such a prestigious committee at UNESCO provides an opportunity for a representative from the English speaking Caribbean to have an input in discussions on ethics policy at UNESCO before publication of such policies. Congratulations is due to Ms. Cheryl Brown, Attorney-at-Law and Manager of the Office of Sponsored Research at the University of The West Indies, Mona, who is the representative from Jamaica to the committee. Ms. Brown had attended the meeting in June and started lobbying at that meeting. The election to one of the vacant seats was as a result of her efforts and that of the Director of the UNESCO National Commission in Jamaica. Representation on the committee is for a period of 5 years at a time, and is voted on by members of UNESCO at their general meeting.
May 1, 2007:
I came across this very interesting discussion on the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME) website today - Retroactive Ethical Approval of Studies Involving Human Subjects. They also have an archive of other discussions. The link is: http://www.wame.org/wame-listserve-discussions /retroactive-ethical-approval-of-studies-involving-human-subjects
February 28, 2007:
The 2nd Caribbean Research Ethics Initiative (CREI) Research Ethics Workshop is to be held at the CHRC Annual Scientific Meeting at the Holiday Sunspree Resort, Montego Bay Jamaica on Friday May 4, 2007 from 2.00pm to 5.00pm. Registration is free and a certificate of attendance will be given at the end. See under announcements for the details of the program.
The Bioethics Society of the English Speaking Caribbean (BSEC) will also be hosting its first Forum at the same occasion on the Saturday from 2.00pm to 5.00pm followed by the AGM. So make a two in one date and come enjoy a little bit of Jamaica in between.
January 22, 2007:
Caribbean Health Research Council
Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC) Annual Scientific Meeting will be held in Montego Bay,Jamaica from May 3 to 5.
The CHRC is a regional health institution with the responsibility for promoting health research in the Caribbean. The agency serves the territories that are member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
and its annual Clinical Meeting is the premier research meeting in the Caribbean so make it a date. For registration information contact the CHRC through the link provided on the Links page.
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