Independence and other things

Last week we heard from Richard Smith that revenues from drug advertising may be an important pillar of editorial independence (doi: 10.1136/bmj.39259.472998.AD). His article, and a news story this week, have got me thinking about what independence means, what its limits are—since limits there must be—and what it's for. On the previous page in the print journal (and at bmj.com/bmj/about-bmj if you're online) you'll see some small but crucial words: “The BMA grants editorial freedom to the editor of the BMJ.” Why are these words crucial? Because they mean that what you read in the BMJ has been judged by the editor …