[From the BMJ website. Forwarded without permission. Acquired via AGORA]
BMJ -- Nylenna et al. 318 (7180): 394
JAMA'S EDITOR SACKED
World medical journal editors should establish an award for editorial
integrity in Lundberg's name[17]
World medical journal editors should draw up email protest petition[18]
Dark cloud of sanctimonious clichsettles onBMJ's website[19]
EDITOR---The sacking of Lundberg asJAMA's editor1[21]is a very sad event for
editorial freedom in general and for medical journals world wide in
particular. This disgraceful incident has shown that neither size nor
success gives any guarantee for editorial freedom---not even the two
combined. The fight for integrity must go on continuously in every editorial
office every day. Lundberg has been an example for other editors through his
editorial integrity, scientific judgment, and his personal strength and
warmth.
I suggest that the global community of medical journal editors, through its
organisations, establish an award for editorial integrity and name it the
George D Lundberg Award.
Magne Nylenna, Editor, Journal of the Norwegian Medical Association. .
PO Box 1152, Sentrum, 0107 Oslo, Norway [log in to unmask][22]
Tanne JH. JAMA's editor fired over sex article. BMJ 1999; 318:
213[Medline][23]. (23 January.)
[Published as a rapid response on our website 22 January 1999]
___________________________________
World medical journal editors should draw up email protest petition[24]
EDITOR---As every editor knows, editors sometimes time the publication of
a piece of research so as to add new information to a current community
or political debate, an upcoming major report, or an important
anniversary. If editors are supposed to make a virtue out of being
indifferent to topicality and relevant world events, heaven help medical
publishing. Lundberg's "crime" was that he scheduled a study to be
published that has information that many would find germane to one of the
central issues in President Clinton's impeachment.1[25]Among the many
things to which Clinton's conduct and its sequelae have drawn world
attention are issues about changing sexual standards. While many found it
incredible that he played word games about whether fellatio was actually
sex, a key finding in the new study shows that 59% of young people share
the same opinion.
At a recent dinner with friends we were talking about our teenage children's
sexuality. One parent who had recently hosted a teenage party had been
advised by other parents to leave the garden lights on to discourage an
epidemic of fellatio in the bushes. All those present who were aged 45 or
more were stunned by the very thought that this is what young people are up
to. But later when I discussed it with my doing-well-at-school, considerate,
and civilised teenagers, they were all "Gee, Dad, you haven't a clue have
you?" While I didn't sense that they themselves were up to such tricks, I
sensed it was hardly exotic. I felt very old.
The pecksniffs at the American Medical Association, who may be motivated by
Republican sentiments, want the medical community to accept that changing
community standards are immaterial to the debate and that Lundberg could
only have been exercising some naked political agenda. Numbered among JAMA
readers would be many health researchers and clinicians interested in
adolescent and sexual health. The idea that JAMA readers ought not to be
subjected to papers mapping such social changes is plainly comical.
The timing of the publication, at a time when the whole world is being force
fed this subject, is relevant and highly appropriate. I urge that an email
petition of protest be drawn up among the world's medical journal editors.
Simon Chapman, Editor, Tobacco Control.
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Sydney,
Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia [log in to unmask][26]
___________________________________
Tanne JH. JAMA's editor fired over sex article. BMJ 1999; 318:
213[Medline][27]. (23 January.)
___________________________________
Dark cloud of sanctimonious clichsettles onBMJ's website[28]
EDITOR---The outpouring of support for Lundberg on the BMJ's website in
response to his sacking1[29]is gratifying in its promptness; mom and
apple pie seem universally desired. It makes me particularly warm inside
to see citizens of the former Soviet Union chastising their American
counterparts (justifiably) on the issue of free speech. It's good that
people care for journalists, but let's not forget that, so far, Lundberg
hasn't been shot or jailed and that he was coming up to retirement age.
It is naive to imagine that publications exist for any reason other than to
serve the interests of their owners. The editorial latitude allowed by
tolerant Victorians such as the BMA merely reflects the security of its
establishment and, perhaps, a belief that to do anything else would result
in a publication of such stupendous tediousness that we all might as well go
home.
JAMA's hideous typography meant that I for one would never read it for
pleasure; but if Lundberg was such a great guy no doubt the American Medical
Association will live to regret its decision as all his friends and allies
in the office resign or strike in protest and America's doctors cancel their
subscriptions in great numbers.
It's a useful maxim that you ought to try to do something every day that
should get you fired. (Yes, this is today's attempt for me.) Lundberg has
finally succeeded. Well done, George, and a happy retirement.
Congratulations to JAMA for a hot start to the public relations campaign on
the "paper that turned the impeachment hearings," and the best of luck with
the redesign.Douglas Carnall, Editor, Career Focus, BMJ.
London WC1H 9JR [log in to unmask][30]
Tanne JH. JAMA's editor fired over sex article. BMJ 1999; 318:
213[Medline][31]. (23 January.)
[Published as a rapid response on our website 22 January 1999]
___________________________________
[IMAGE]The sacking of George Lundberg, JAMA's editor, caused a strong
reaction in the medical world. Within 10 days of the BMJ posting an
editorial comment we received 67 rapid responses to our website: 55 of
the respondents (82%) were outraged by the dismissal of Lundberg, about
the half of this group were editors themselves. Only two responses
approved AMA's action; five took a more neutral view, even though three
of them disagreed with AMA's action. The remaining responses did not
offer a judgment.
___________________________________
British Medical Journal 1999[32]
Reprint (PDF) of this article[33] Send a response[34] to this article
Other related articles[35] in BMJ PubMed citation[36] Related articles in
PubMed[37] Download to Citation Manager[38] Search Medline for articles
by:
Nylenna, M.[39] || Carnall, D.[40] Alert me when:
[IMAGE]New articles cite this article
[41]
OTHER RELATED ARTICLES IN BMJ:
NEWS
JAMA's editor fired over sex article.
Janice Hopkins Tanne
BMJ 1999 318: 213. [Full text][42]
*** References from this document ***
[orig] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7180/394
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[9] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/eletter-submit/318/7180/394
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[26] mailto:[log in to unmask]
[27] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/external_ref?access_num=9915717&link_type=MED
[28] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7180/394#Top
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[30] mailto:[log in to unmask]
[31] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/external_ref?access_num=9915717&link_type=MED
[32] http://www.bmj.com/misc/terms.shtml
[33] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/reprint/318/7180/394
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[35] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7180/394#related
[36] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/external_ref?access_num=9933212&link_type=MED
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[42] http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/318/7178/213
----------------------------
Robert Marshall, MD
Kirkpatrick Clinic
Longview, WA
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