Australia Pulls Guidelines For ADHD Medicines
8 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // November 24th, 2009 // 8:33 am
Why? There are concerns that the guidelines, which are based, in part, on work by a Harvard University researcher, may have been undermined due to his financial ties to drugmakers, according to The Daily Telegraph.
A Congressional investigation revealed last year that Harvard’s Joseph Biederman had earned far more money from drugmakers than he had reported to the school (back story and more here). The probe found about $1.6 million in payments and by failing to report income, he may have violated federal and university research rules governing conflicts of interest. Harvard Medical School is supposedly investigating the discrepancies, although it remains unclear if any action was taken.
Meanwhile, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians is belatedly conducting a review that is jeopardizing the guidelines used to recommend meds such as Ritalin. In fact, child welfare and ADHD experts want the guidelines rewritten entirely.
“This is an excellent opportunity for the Government to go back to the drawing board,” University of South Australia education faculty lecturer Brenton Prosser tells the paper. “I advise parents to use medication as a last resort. Pills don’t acquire skills. Medicines don’t address social skills.”
A spokesman for the college says the institution “was not aware of the US investigation when drafting the guidelines. “When (it) is completed the college and National Health Medical Research Council will determine the future status of the guidelines.”
Another note - the paper reminds us that, last year, it was disclosed seven of the 10 people in charge of setting the guidelines had financial links to drugmakers that sell ADHD meds.
Photo courtesy of Jerome Kassirer
martin brown
great, so the aussies notice all this is garbage but our country is still like “yea whatver.”
Biederman and Harvard should be ashamed.
taller yet today
biederman- what a great doctor he is.
From Wiki:
Dr. Biederman was the recipient of the 1998 NAMI Exemplary Psychiatrist award. He was also selected by the Massachusetts Psychiatric Society Awards committee as the recipient of the 2007 Outstanding Psychiatrist Award for Research. In 2007, Dr. Biederman received the Excellence in Research Award from the New England Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He was also awarded the Mentorship Award from the Department of Psychiatry at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
NAMI and Biederman Love
Evelyn Pringle
I won’t even get started on the Biederman topic because I don’t have all day.
SteveM
Biedermann got Nemeroff and Schatzberg to write glowing recommendations for him.
talbot
We’re on a fast track from leader to laughing stock in many aspects of medicine.
Hurray for the Aussies and any other place where guidelines and treatment recommendations are based first and foremost on what’s best for those being treated.
It isn’t going to be too long before American consumers start comparing the guidelines here with those in other places–maybe that will compel changes.
Evelyn Pringle
Steve M says:
“Biedermann got Nemeroff and Schatzberg to write glowing recommendations for him.”
What the hell good did that do for him?
SteveM
Evelyn,
Re: “What the hell good did that do for him?”
I was being sarcastic. Fellow Reptile-Medicos lauding one of there own.
Get it?
patrons99
Ghostwritten medical practice “guidelines” is not a U.S.-centric problem. The U.S. would do well to pull ALL of its “guidelines”, and start from scratch. They are completely biased, conflicted, and bogus, promoting the interests of pharma, not the patient! The Aussies are leading the way on this one.