© 2002 American Thoracic Society
Potential conflict of interest in AjrccmTo the Editor:I am writing because of my concern regarding a potential conflict of interest in an article in AJRCCM (1). In November 2001, Dr. Goodman testified for the tobacco industry in a trial in West Virginia that screening for lung cancer was dangerous and of unproven efficacy as reported in an Associated Press article. If Dr. Goodman was paid for his testimony in the West Virginia case, and if he had had prior conversations or other agreements with a tobacco company or its representatives to provide testimony in this case at the time of his original publication in AJRCCM in March 2001, then a critical reader might reasonably question whether this relationship raises the question of a potential conflict of interest. If such a relationship existed at the time of publication, Dr. Goodman should have revealed his connection with the tobacco industry or its legal representatives to the editor of AJRCCM. Certainly, at this point in time, AJRCCM should reveal this potential conflict of interest to readers of the Journal. Finally, in this case, the jury voted in favor of the tobacco industry, against the provision of screening for West Virginia smokers. Dr. Goodman's testimony in the case may have had an important influence on the jury. It is interesting to note the conclusion of the Duke group in their AJRCCM article, that computerized tomographic lung cancer screening "is not ready for prime time," is featured prominently in Dr. Goodman's courtroom testimony. This letter has an online supplement.
City of Hope National Medical Center Duarte, California REFERENCES
From the Authors:We thank Dr. Grannis for the letter concerning our Pro/Con Editorial, "Low-Dose Spiral Computed Tomography Screening for Lung Cancer: Not Ready for Prime Time" (1). This invited paper was submitted to AJRCCM in December, 2000 and published in March, 2001. Dr. Goodman did not agree to become an expert witness for the referenced case until March 19, 2001. In fact, it is because of the peer-reviewed manuscripts that Dr. Goodman was involved with that he became recognized as an expert in the field and was asked to testify. None of us had any paid relationship to the tobacco industry whatsoever at the time the article was published. Thus, there is absolutely no conflict of interest.
Duke University Medical Center Durham, North Carolina REFERENCES
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