Adrian C. Traeger, PhD, School of Public Health at University of Sydney and Lisa Bero, PhD, at the Center for Bioethics and Humanities found that over the past 3 years, several independent studies have questioned the safety and efficacy of spinal cord stimulation to manage pain.

The spinal cord stimulator industry was swift to respond by creating counterevidence (original studies and reviews), supporting researchers to write criticisms in industry-sponsored journals. These tactics have historically extended into the tobacco industry, pharmaceutical, lead, vinyl chloride, and silicosis-generating industries, to protect profits.

Bero and Traeger conclude that to maintain independence, professional organizations and publications should not accept industry funding and should have strict policies to actively manage financial conflicts of their members.  Read article>>

Story also appears in MEDPAGE Today>>