There’s quite an exchange of letters in the recent issue of The American Journal of Psychiatry. No less than 19 Pfizer employees, all of whom are doctors, criticized a speech by APA president Steven Sharfstein, in which he chastised psychiatrists for becoming too cozy with drugmakers and, as a result, ruining their moral authority and credibility.

In their letter, they accuse him of a “sweeping condemnation” that fails to sufficiently evaluate the current state of psychiatry. They maintain the “primary role” of drugmakers is serving the “collective desire for innovation.” And so they “respectfully disagree” with the idea that patients are served by “adding distance to the very partnerships” that have enhanced the quality of life.

And so Sharfstein fired back: “I have never questioned the ethics and values of psychiatrists who work for pharmaceutical companies. However, the fact that the profit-making motives of industry come into conflict with professional ethics is amply documented and should come as no surprise to the authors.”

Pretty strong stuff. Of course, Pfizer was caught up in the scandal over antidepressants and the failure of several drugmakers to disclose clinical trial data that shed light on safety and effectiveness. Maybe Sharfstein had that episode in mind?

The Pfizer docs are free to advocate, but their complaints appear rather disingenuous given recent events. Rather than protest so loudly, perhaps they should start a movement to encourage greater transparency so patient confidence can be restored in their employers.

(thanks to furiousseasons.com for pointing this out).[tags]American Psychiatry Association, Pfizer, Zoloft[/tags]