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LETTERS: Aubrey Blumsohn Profound ethical issues were smoothed over BMJ 2007; 335: 629 [Full text]

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Conflicts of Interest

David R Coghill   (30 September 2007)

Re: Conflicts of Interest

Aubrey Blumsohn   (1 October 2007)

Conflicts of Interest 30 September 2007
David R Coghill, Senior Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, DD3 6HH Send response to journal: Re: Conflicts of Interest	Whether I agree or disagree with Blumsohn regarding the BMJ's treatment of the "Gillberg affair" is unimportant. However I must question Blumsohn's definition of "no competing interets". I believe that his own experiences with research misconduct, which have prompted him to run a blog entitled "Scientific Misconduct Blog, About all manner of corporate pharmaceutical scientific misconduct. If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.", represent a significant competing interest and should, in the interest of transparancy, have been made clear. Competing interests: Researcher in ADHD acquaintance of Christopher Gillberg. Has received research funding from industry.
Re: Conflicts of Interest 1 October 2007
Aubrey Blumsohn, Consultant Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Send response to journal: Re: Re: Conflicts of Interest	This is a fascinating new definition of a conflict of interest Dr Coghill. Essentially what we are saying is that previous expression of a view constitutes a conflict of interest if that same view is later expressed. I will try to oscillate my views and ethical standards to avoid this in future. Pervasive mistrust of our profession seems to be the rule rather than the exception, and I believe we need a rather better standard of debate. "Conflict" of interest: Have previously written about the Gillberg affair [1,2,3]. References 1. http://scientific-misconduct.blogspot.com/2007/09/who-is-beast-merger-of-medical-journals.html 2. http://scientific-misconduct.blogspot.com/2007/07/intimidation-by-patient-advocacy-groups.html 3. http://scientific-misconduct.blogspot.com/2007/07/gillberg-affair-and-fall-of-scientific.html Aubrey Blumsohn Competing interests: Fascinated observer