Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19236

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Spence D
When marketing masquerades as education
BMJ 2011 Jan 4; 342:
http://www.bmj.com/content/342/bmj.c7469.extract

Abstract:

The fire alarm at our health centre is tested regularly, and we joke that with all the asbestos in its prefab construction it will never burn down. Shortly after one such test a forwarded email flyer from a Westminster Health Forum seminar on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease appeared in my inbox. This is a high level seminar, with representatives from the Department of Health and a collection of baronesses, lords, professors, and members of parliament—not the sort of people I normally meet in my 1970s concrete dugout. A transcript of this “CPD [continuing professional development] certified” seminar …