PharmacoEthics Articles

PharmacoEthics.com

An EthicsWeb website

Drug Corporation Scandals: Ghostwriting,

by Ashley Pringle

Medical ghostwriting is a somewhat common practice by which prominent scientists or doctors are paid by a drug company, either in money or other services, to put their names on positive review articles, written by another author, about new drugs or medicines. Professionals who need more money to complete their work often turn to ghostwriting as a source of financial income and in return drug companies get favourable reviews in prominent medical journals to prop up new, potentially inadequately tested, drugs they wish to get to market. This practice is regarded by many as severely undermining the legitimacy of articles, which would normally be considered the standard by which new drugs are considered for prescription, but may now give deceptive advice about drugs.