Commercialism

< Back to search results

• Format Texts
• Language/s English
• Target Audience Self-directed learning
• EBM Stage 3 - Appraising evidence
• Duration <5 mins
• Difficulty Introductory

Key Concepts addressed

• 1-3a Beware of conflicting interests

Details

How to uncover commercialism

The U.S. spends more money per capita on health care than any other country. So it is not surprising that there are many commercial interests in the health care industry looking for good publicity from journalists.

The Statement of Principles of the Association of Health Care Journalists states that journalists should:

• Be vigilant in selecting sources, asking about, weighing and disclosing relevant financial, advocacy, personal or other interests of those we interview as a routine part of story research and interviews.
• Investigate and report the possible links between sources of information (studies or experts) and those (such as the manufacturers) who promote a new idea or therapy. Investigate and report the possible links between researchers and private companies, researchers and public institutions, patient advocacy groups and their sponsors, celebrity spokespersons and their sponsors, non-profit health and professional organizations and their sponsors.

Read more