Winds of change: growing demands for transparency in the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry

Pratt, Iain S; Hughes, Clare L; Slevin, Terry J

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2010.tb03518.x

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To the Editor: There is no doubt that the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry, described by Mitchell,1 is a complex one. Mitchell states that: “There are few, if any, analogies for the relationship between the medical profession and the pharmaceutical industry”.1 We contend that, as medical professionals are to the pharmaceutical industry, nutritional health professionals are to the food industry.

1 Cancer Council Western Australia, Perth, WA.
2 Curtin University, Perth, WA.
3 CHOICE, Sydney, NSW.

Correspondence: spratt@cancerwa.asn.au

1. Mitchell PB. Winds of change: growing demands for transparency in the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry. Med J Aust 2009; 191: 273-275. <MJA full text>
2. Medicines Australia. Code of conduct. Edition 15. 2006. http://www.medicinesaustralia.com.au/pages/page254.asp (accessed Sep 2009).
3. Miller PG, Kypri K, Chikritzhs TN, et al. Health experts reject industry-backed funding for alcohol research [letter]. Med J Aust 2009; 190: 713-714. <MJA full text>
4. Yach D. Food companies and nutrition for better health. Public Health Nutr 2008; 11: 109-111.

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