Posts Tagged ‘Lung’

The hot topic from the final day of this year’s American College of Cardiology (ACC) has got to be the big debate which took place between two influential and outspoken cardiologists during one of the penultimate sessions of the congress. 

Dr Steve Nissen, head of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and a past president of the American College of Cardiology and Dr Robert Harrington, MD, director of the Duke Cardiovascular Research Institute, debated the issue of pharmaceutical company support of medical research or continuing medical education (CME). 

Growing concerns on industry influence and funding of education programs for doctors has brought to light numerous high-profile scandals that some believe have been exaggerated to demonize companies that take big financial risks to develop drugs.  Pharmaceutical and medical device companies currently fund $1 billion of CME.

Nissen’s argument didn’t start well; he mistakenly said that the American Heart Association (AHA) had a financial relationship with Coca-Cola which influenced statements that a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages needed more study, and that the findings of an observational study linking soda consumption to obesity were not conclusive.

However, Dr Harrington, challenged his statement, ensuring him that the logo (above) used in this campaign belonged to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) who collaborated with Diet Coke in the red dress campaign to raise awareness of heart disease among women.  This was confirmed by AHA president Clyde Yancy, MD.

Nissen dismissed protests from the AHA saying the AHA and NHLBI have an ongoing partnership to promote public education about heart disease in women and that partnership linked the AHA to the red dress displayed on the Diet Coke can.

The NHLBI, responded in detail: “National Wear Red Day is designed by The Heart Truth and its campaign partners, including the American Heart Association, as the first Friday in February when Americans nationwide are encouraged to wear red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. The AHA participates in National Wear Red Day, which they sometimes refer to as Go Red for Women Day. (National Wear Red Day is a trademark of the Department of Health and Human Services and the American Heart Association.)”

Nissen and Harrington then went on to discuss CME education which Nissen found to be “marketing, not education.” Harrington was listed as a defender of the CME system, but he spent most of his presentation attacking industry-funded CME. “We need to take a stand about what’s right and what’s appropriate,” he said. However, Harrington maintained that new checks and balances could make things better, including having companies pool their money and prohibiting companies from choosing lecture topics. “If we’re willing to be manipulated there are a lot of people who want to manipulate us,” he said.

What do you think? CME - marketing or education?