[e-drug] BMJ editor resigns from professorate

[Kirsten Myhr <myhr@online.no>]

E-drug: BMJ editor resigns from professorate
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This letter appeared in last week's BMJ, written by one of BMJ's editor, 
Richard Smith, to the University of Nottingham where he held a professorate 
in journalism

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/322/7296/1200/e/DC1

Sir Colin Campbell
Vice Chancellor
University of Nottingham
Nottingham NG7 2RD

16 May 2001

Dear Sir Colin,

I'm writing with regret to resign my position as professor of medical 
journalism in the University of Nottingham. I'm doing this because the 
University has taken money from British American Tobacco to fund an 
International Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility. This is a serious 
mistake and has damaged the University.

If the University were to decide to return the money, then I would be 
delighted to retract my resignation.

We have both had ample opportunity to express our views on this issue, and 
I'm grateful to you both for debating with me at the medical school in 
Nottingham and for publishing your views in the BMJ. As I hope you have 
observed, we had a great many responses to our debate - and they are still 
coming in. I'm enclosing with this letter copies of the responses. You will 
see that they overwhelmingly take the view that the University has done the 
wrong thing in accepting this money and that it should give the money back.

You may be most interested in the two responses from the Cancer Research 
Campaign. You give the impression in your article that the Campaign said 
that it was all right for the University to accept the money so long as it 
was spent in a part of the University that received no funding from the 
Campaign. In fact, the Campaign makes clear that it does not approve of the 
acceptance of the money and that it thinks that you have breached the 
protocol that it agreed with Universities UK. Perhaps this will make you 
want to reconsider taking the money.

As you also know, we held a on our website on whether the University should 
return the money to BAT and whether I should resign if it doesn't. A total 
of 1075 people voted: 84% voted that you should return the money, and 54% 
voted that I should resign if you don't.

The vote on whether or not I should resign was much closer because people 
were divided over whether I should dissociate myself from the University or 
stay in position and argue my case. I am resigning both because I said that 
I would do what the BMJ's readers said I should do and because I've argued 
so strongly that the University shouldn't have taken this money. I'm also 
privileged to be in a position where it will be possible for me to continue 
to contribute to the important debate on the relationship between 
Universities and tobacco companies.

Finally, I want to thank the University for giving me the opportunity to 
interact with medical students and young researchers. I've learnt at least 
as much - and probably more - from them than they might ever have learnt 
from me.

Yours sincerely
Richard Smith
Editor

Electronic responses from readers up to 21 May:
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletters/322/7296/1200/e/DC1#EL1

Well done
Ahmad Risk
eHealth Consultant
WHO Geneva
risk@cybermedic.org

This is a strong manifestation of "doing the right thing", to coin the 
phrase of George Lunberg. It is also the expression of the clear sight of 
that fine line that separates doing good from doing harm, to coin your 
phrase.

In a changing world full of turmoil and the dash for cash and profit, 
ethics tend to be regarded as an optional extra where it should be at the 
heart of every organisation, including universities.

Dr Ahmad Risk

A matter of honour
Woody Caan,
public health specialist
international centre for health and society
woody@public-health.ucl.ac.uk

Ave.
Fidelitas, gravitas et veritas
bonae sunt.
Vale.

Can University accept funds from Drug Industry?
Jorge Gomez-Aracena,
Ass. Professor
Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Málaga, Spain
gomezaracena@uma.es

Dear Professor,
Your resignation is an extraordinary lesson for our Universities, 
physicians and researchers.
To accept funds from the Tobacco Industry signifies to become involved in 
an implict compromise with an industry which produces drugs and is the 
fundamental cause of millions of deaths and suffering in our world. The 
goal of this fund does not justify at all this mean of raising money.

This action is against the universal principles of the Modern University 
and does not dignify the Institution. We can not accept under any excuse or 
circumstance funds coming from this Drug Industry. What is next? Cocaine 
Industry? I feel extremely happy about your courageous decision, which is 
one of the best lessons of these days.

Jorge Gomez-Aracena
Ass. Professor
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Málaga, 
Campus de Teatinos s/n, 29071 Malaga, Spain
gomezaracena@uma.es

Bravo to Richard Smith
Barry Pless
Professor of Pediatrics, Epidemiology and Biost
McGill University
barryp@epid.lan.mcgill.ca

Bravo! Richard Smith has set a shining example, not only for other editors, 
but for many academics. Although unlike others who don't have a day job to 
fall back on, I am nevertheless certain his decision was not an easy one. 
Sadly, I suspect far too many academics are unaware of similar situations 
in their own universities. Smith's actions should prompt us to seek these 
out and act accordingly. For a starter list of what these situations might 
be, readers may want to read the brilliant editorial by Chapman and 
Shatenstein in the March issue of Tobacco Control. It directly addresses 
the Nottingman controversy to which Smith responded so appropriately.

Question
Ann Maxwell Eward, Ph.D.,
Director
Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan
ann.eward@spectrum-health.org

Does your resignation affect your position as Editor of the BMJ? If not, I 
can understand and support your desire to distance yourself from a 
University who is displaying such egregious behavior in light of the 
scientific evidence of health risks associated with tobacco use.

Welldone!
Professor Idris Mohammed,
Chairman, National Programme on Immunization, Abuja, Nigeria
University of Maiduguri/ NPI
IIdrisMohammed@netscape.net

It is gratifying that there are persons of honour and integrity like 
Richard Smith, who are able and willing to resign their appointment in 
response to actions which ignore the vital health interests of mankind. The 
powerful tobacco industry has wreaked so much havoc that any action by any 
institution which even remotely appears to promote smoking must be roundly 
resisted and condemned.

As a physician practising in a sub-Saharan developing country where the 
tobacco industry is now targetting hapless citizens, I very much welcome 
opposition to the industry from whatever quarter. Welldone, Professor 
Richard Smith.

Full Support
Nicola Jakeman
Bay-of-Islands Hospital, New Zealand
edandnic@voyager.co.nz

Dear Richard Smith,
As a former student of Nottingham Medical School, I am embarrassed and 
ashamed that they would even consider taking money from the tobacco 
industry. I hope the powers that be take a lesson from the integrety that 
you have shown in your resignation.

Yours Sincerely,
Nicola Jakeman.

Stand up and be Counted
Angus Murray

Principles are all to often regarded as an expensive luxury. Its true that 
they often have a high cost. However, that is a cost which I believe is 
often worth paying, otherwise we begin on the slippery slope to a world of 
dog eat dog.

It is profoundly wrong that anyone should benefit from others' misery. The 
tobacco industry kills and maims millions every year. Those concerned are 
often severely limited in their choosing to smoke by their addiction. 
Passive smokers also often have little choice.It is most encouraging that 
there are people who are prepared to make a stand against this most 
distasteful trade which wrecks people's health and lives and they should be 
given all the support that can be mustered. So I say to anyone reading this 
- look to your conscience. Stand Up and be Counted - if you've got the 
guts.

Nottingham's views
Philip Isaac MBBS FRCA,
Staff anesthesiologist
Oklahoma USA
pisaac@mmcable.com

What next...funding for a Limb Prostheses Institute from "World Land Mines 
Inc.?"
I also applaud Dr. Smith's stand and his decision. No doubt Nottingham 
Univ. and the scientific/medical community will be the worse for it, but 
maybe only in the short term. I would like to see in this space some 
comments from other Nottingham Univ. faculty, students and any related 
individuals or groups. Or are they too worried about persecution from 
university leaders that are clearly so out of touch with current and 
popular thinking?

Philip Isaac MBBS FRCA

Ethical outcomes more important than funding
Colin A Holmes,
Professor of Nursing (Mental Health)
University of Western Sydney
c.holmes@uws.edu.au

The individual standing alone for what they believe is right is guaranteed 
to evoke profound admiration, and the stand taken by Profesor Smith is no 
exception.

His decision is based on several principles, and taken together they may 
well be considered reason enough to resign. However, if the principle of 
not accepting money from ethically dubious organisations were applied 
rigorously, and were extended to include organisations with whom 
universities do business, the whole university system would instantly 
collapse because it is inevitable that the majority are directly involved 
in, or invest in other companies which are involved in, a whole range of 
morally questionable activities. These would range from the manufacture of 
components for missiles and personnel mines, to the unreasonable pricing of 
drugs for HIV treatment, and the exploitation of impoverished labour in 
third world countries, activities just as offensive as those of the tobacco 
companies.

Since we cannot avoid doing business with ethically questionable companies, 
I can see no point in resigning on this score. It would surely be wiser to 
accept funding regardless of its source, and direct our moral and 
intellectual energies into ensuring that it is used for virtuous ends.

well done for resigning
alan gwynn,
gp
cambridge
alan.gwynn@gp-d81025.nhs.uk

lets clear the air about drug money
Greg Thomas,
network administrator
Montgomery County Public Schools
greg_thomas@fc.mcps.k12.md.us

Presumably if a heroin drug cartel were to offer money, the answer would 
be, no thanks. If money from diamonds sold by South American rebels was 
offered, presumably the answer would also be, no thanks. Apparently, then, 
the position of the University of Nottingham is that corporate social 
responsibility doesn't apply when the amount in question could pay for a 
new swimming pool in the sports center. I think it's time for the 
University of Nottingham to consider letting someone else go- the person or 
persons who felt they could get away with funding education with drug 
money.

just to add my name to a list of supporters
Andrew Vickers
vickersa@mskcc.org
An important and bold move: if you ain't part of the solution, you're part 
of the problem.

Thank you Richard
Dr Chris Nixon,
Primary Care Development Consultant
Bedford PCT/GP Practice
cjn@chrisnixon.freeserve.co.uk

In a world tempted by financial expediancy but the counter culture 
post-modern, it is refreshing to see someone put money where his mouth is 
and not the other way around! Thank you Richard. 

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