New York Times Reports on NPR Radio Host’s Ties to Big Pharma: Did This Effect His Views on Anti-Depressants and Suicide

The New York Times recently reported about the ties between radio host Dr. Frederick K. Goodwin, host of an independent program called “The Infinite Mind” which airs on over 300 NPR stations, and several Big Pharma companies, some who manufacture and distribute anti-depressant medications (SSRI’s). The Times reports that between 2000 and 2007 Dr. Goodwin received at least $1.3 million for marketing lectures he gave for several drug manufacturers. This income has not been previously disclosed on the program.
In March of this year, Dr. Goodwin had a show in which he took the position that there was no credible scientific evidence linking anti-depressants and violent or suicidal behavior. The Times reports that that same week Dr. Goodwin earned approximately $20,000 lecturing on behalf of GlaxoSmithKline who manufacturers Paxil, an SSRI. GlaxoSmithKline, the Times indicates, has suppressed studies for years that indicate that Paxil increased suicidal behavior and ideation.
One of my favorite blogs addressing the pharmaceutical industry, Pharmalot, has several posts here and here addressing this issue. NPR has indicated they will be removing the show from its satellite service within the next week. The bottom line of all this investigation and disclosure is that the pharmaceutical industry has attempted to push its agenda behind the scenes in so many ways from influencing our Drs. and pharamcists, our legislators, and now the airwaves of National Public Radio, one of the most respected news outlets for “unbiased” reporting. We have a serious problem when Drs. holding themselves out to the public as experts do not fully disclose their conflicts of interest. Clearly, being paid over $1 million has some influence on your perspective of issues which you are directly addressing and discussing and the public is entitled to full disclosure of those potential interests so it can judge for itself what effects such influences may have on the positions you take. As Senator Chuck Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is reported to have said, “We know the drug companies are throwing huge amounts of money at medical researchers, and there’s no clear-cut way to know how much and exactly where, Now it looks like the same thing is happening in journalism.”