July 21, 2006

Medical Journal Toughens Its Conflict-of-Interest Policy; South Korean Stem-Cell Scientist Admits Some Fabrications

By KATHERINE MANGAN and JEFFREY R. YOUNG

ETHICAL WARNING LABELS: The failure of at least seven medical researchers to disclose their financial ties to the makers of antidepressants prompted The Journal of the American Medical Association to toughen its conflict-of-interest policy last week. It also issued a correction of an article those researchers wrote warning of the potential dangers to pregnant women who stop using the drugs.

The authors have said they regret not having disclosed those ties, but they believe the industry