AMA's scheme to protect JAMA's independence has drawbacks

The American Medical Association's new scheme to protect the editorial independence of its journal (JAMA) from interference by the association's management has several weak points, according toDr George Lundberg, the journal's former editor.

Dr Lundberg, who was dismissed from his post in January when he published an article which the association's management considered to be political, outlined his misgivings last week at a meeting in London of the BMJ's editorial board.

The scheme, known as the “editorial governance plan,” was unveiled at a press conference at theend of May and involves …