S640 Blog #6 Maywin Jackson

S640 Blog Posting #6

Now that Intellectual Freedom is something I have become more educated and passionate about I am more inclined to detect it in other arenas. For instance, I came upon this article entitled “Preserving Intellectual Freedom in Clinical Medicine,” by Giovanni, A. Fava.
In regards to Intellectual Freedom as it applies to the medical profession, in 1989 Robert G. Petersdorf stated: “we can no longer tolerate the dishonesty, cheating, fraud, and conflict of interest that have invaded science and medicine.”
Unfortunately, the same statement applies to both fields of science and medicine in the 21st century.
Basically, this article discusses the fact that the medical profession is more interested in establishing, pursuing and preserving social power than it is in investing those same efforts to improve the overall field of medicine.

Decline in intellectual freedom is mirrored in the medical ‘excellence deception’ which encourages prevailing practices and deflects constructive criticism. Excellence deception behavior also robs the profession of alternative views which could improve the overall effectiveness and quality of medicine.
Examples:
· Corporate interests :
Do sometimes become special interest groups which influence clinical and scientific information.
· Act as editors, consultants, reviewers, to medical journals,
· Can control/prevent dissemination of data in conflict with represented special interest group.
· Filtering information regarding:
o Information relating to long term use of antidepressant medications.

In the article it is suggested that in order to address the medical fields’ IF problems a good start would be to appoint/select representatives without conflicts of interest who will, if necessary, go against the powers that be in order to maintain ongoing professional values and quality.