Media coverage of scientific presentations

In reply: The letter from Aroney displays some basic misunderstandings of the role of the media in reporting medical issues.

Correspondence: jrobotham@smh.com.au

1. Robotham J. Doctors warn: just one tablet of aspirin a day may be enough to do you serious harm. Sydney Morning Herald 2002; 7 June: 1.
2. Bertouch J, Lee L, McNeill HP, Bolin T. The impact of cyclo-oxygenase II (COX-II) inhibitors on gastrointestinal (GIT) bleeding. Poster 30. Presented at the combined meeting of the Australian Rheumatology Association and the New Zealand Rheumatology Association. Christchurch, NZ: 28 May 2002. Sydney: Australian Rheumatology Association, 2002.
3. Moynihan R, Sweet M. Medicine, the media and monetary interests: the need for transparency and professionalism. Med J Aust 2000; 173: 631-634.
4. Bartlett C, Sterne J, Egger M. What is newsworthy? Longitudinal study of the reporting of medical research in two British newspapers. BMJ 2002; 325: 81-84.
5. Media, entertainment and arts alliance. <www.alliance.org.au>.
6. Davidoff F, DeAngelis CD, Drazen JM, et al. Sponsorship, authorship, and accountability. N Engl J Med 2001; 345: 825-827.
7. Sultan A, O'Sullivan K. Psychological disturbances in asylum seekers held in long term detention: a participant–observer account. Med J Aust 2001; 175: 593-596. <eMJA full text>
8. Van Der Weyden MB, Armstrong RM, Randall HM. Asylum seekers and healthcare [letter]. Med J Aust 2002; 176: 87. <eMJA full text>

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