Parker Waichman LLP

JAMA Oversight Committee to Look Into Lexapro Study Controversy

The American Medical Association (AMA) is responding to allegations that two top editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) attempted to intimidate a critic of a Lexapro study it published. According to The Wall Street Journal, the AMA has asked its oversight committee to investigate the charges. The controversy centers on Dr. […]

The American Medical Association (AMA) is responding to allegations that two top editors of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) attempted to intimidate a critic of a <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/lexapro">Lexapro study it published. According to The Wall Street Journal, the AMA has asked its oversight committee to investigate the charges.

The controversy centers on Dr. Jonathan Leo’s criticism of a Lexapro study published in the JAMA. Dr. Leo is a professor of neuroanatomy at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tenn.

Earlier this month, Dr. Leo published an online letter in the British journal BMJ that criticized how the study’s results were reported in the JAMA last year. Dr. Leo also said the JAMA didn’t disclose the author of the study’s financial relationship with Lexapro’s maker, Forest Laboratories Inc. Forest has confirmed it has paid the study’s author for speeches, but not for his research, the Journal said.

Following publication of his letter, the JAMA’s Editor-in-Chief called the dean of Dr. Leo’s college demanding a retraction. In an earlier Wall Street Journal report on the “dust up”, the editor-in-chief called Dr. Leo a “nobody and a nothing”. According to The Wall Street Journal, Dr. Leo has also claimed that the JAMA’s Executive Deputy Editor had told him “You are banned from JAMA for life. You will be sorry.”

As we reported last week, the flap prompted the Alliance for Human Research Protection to call for an investigation, as well as the suspension of both the Editor-in-Chief and Executive Deputy Editor at JAMA. The Alliance is a group that has long criticized the ties between the drug industry and academia.

In a letter to the chairman of the JAMA board of trustees, the Alliance said medical journal editors have a responsibility “to provide an open forum for scientific debate, and to preserve the scientific integrity of the journal and its content by ensuring against concealed conflicts of interest.” The Alliance contends that the JAMA editors not only “failed to meet this responsibility, they resorted to threatening retribution against a researcher who detected failures in their editing and gatekeeping processes.” The Alliance letter charged that the incident involving Dr. Leo has raised questions about whether drug advertising influences JAMA’s publication of biased reports.

In a statement, the AMA said it has “formally referred” the matter to a seven-member Journal Oversight Committee. According to The Wall Street Journal, the oversight committee is a standing body that has editorial responsibility for JAMA, including evaluating the performance of the Editor-in-Chief. The committee is made up primarily of medical academics.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the AMA statement said it takes the concerns raised over the Dr. Leo matter “very seriously.” It said the AMA board will “give careful consideration to whatever is reported to it” by the oversight committee.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
I am really satisfied with service I was provided. I’d like to thank Maryann and Jorge for always helping with my process. Excellent service 100% recommended.
Herí Rodriguez
8 months ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Positive: Professionalism , Quality , Responsiveness Benita Rollis was very helpful and kept me informed on every step of the process of my case.
Jose Crespo
3 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Thank you Parker Waichman. Working with Christina Morace through this long process made it easy and rewarding. Always pleasant to speak with and answered any of my questions and concerns. She kept me informed on all the documents needed on a timely basis and all the updates on my case. I sincerely recommend this Law Firm for the professional and knowledgeable workers. Thank you Carrie Hargrove Erskine
Carrie Hargrove
4 months ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038