The Canadian Medical Association Journal
http://www.100md.com
《新英格兰医药杂志》
To the Editor: Although the Perspective article by Shuchman and Redelmeier (March 30 issue)1 regarding problems at the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) was intended to provide a "perspective" on recent events at the journal, I would remind your readers it remains just that — one perspective, and one that is substantially colored by speculation and by the authors' connection with former CMAJ editor Dr. John Hoey. (Dr. Shuchman has written freelance news articles for the CMAJ, and Dr. Redelmeier was a member of the CMAJ editorial board appointed by Dr. Hoey.)
The headline and tenor of the piece notwithstanding, rumors of the CMAJ's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Submissions to the journal continue to flow in. Five highly respected and skilled professionals have joined the team of associate editors. An interim editorial board, which includes three current or former deans of medicine and a former editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine, has been appointed. A search for a new editor-in-chief is under way.
In addition, interim governance guidelines confirming editorial independence at the CMAJ are in place, and a panel chaired by a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Antonio Lamer, and cochaired by the CMAJ's ombudsman–ethicist, Dr. John Dossetor, reviews the governance structure of the journal. This panel will issue its report shortly.
The CMAJ has been a proud pillar of Canadian medicine since 1911, and it will remain so.
Ruth Collins-Nakai, M.D.
Canadian Medical Association
Ottawa, ON K1G 3Y6, Canada
ruth.collins-nakai@cma.ca
References
Shuchman M, Redelmeier DA. Politics and independence -- the collapse of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. N Engl J Med 2006;354:1337-1339.
The authors reply: Since our article was published, some CMAJ authors have withdrawn articles slated for publication,1 a member of the CMAJ's award-winning news team has resigned over issues concerning editorial autonomy,2 and the number of full-time senior editors has decreased from four to none. Members of the journal oversight committee cannot discover how the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) governs its journal; instead, the CMA has asked the committee members to await the report of a review panel. Regrettably, the chair of the review panel resigned because of illness, and two other panel members resigned because of time constraints. The review, originally due in interim form in May, is now expected in July.3,4
Even more disturbing, since the firing of John Hoey and his senior deputy editor, Anne Marie Todkill, CMA executives have continued to use pressure tactics and to enforce confidentiality restrictions. After our Perspective article appeared, CMA executives endeavored to find the source of our information. After the chair of the review committee invited two outspoken academics to serve on the panel, both were abruptly disinvited, apparently as a result of CMA pressure. This disquieting situation at the CMAJ has inspired discussion of a new Canadian medical journal.5
Miriam Shuchman, M.D.
SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine
Buffalo, NY 14214-3013
Donald A. Redelmeier, M.D.
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
Since the publication of their Perspective article, Dr. Redelmeier has resigned from the CMAJ Editorial Board.
References
Unless CMA responds, prominent authors will withdraw CMAJ submissions. Press release of McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, March 28, 2006.
Press release of the Michener Award Foundation announcing the 2005 Michener Award and citations of merit, Ottawa, April 11, 2006. (Accessed June 8, 2006, at http://www.michenerawards.ca/english/winaward2005.htm.)
MacDonald N, Squires B, Downie J, et al. Reflecting on governance for CMAJ. CMAJ 2006;174:1537, 1539-1537, 1539.
CMA/CMAH announces new chair of CMAJ review panel. Press release of the Canadian Medical Association, Ottawa, May 8, 2006.
Singer PA, Guyatt GH. Deeper lessons from the CMAJ debacle. Lancet 2006;367:1551-1553.
The headline and tenor of the piece notwithstanding, rumors of the CMAJ's demise have been greatly exaggerated. Submissions to the journal continue to flow in. Five highly respected and skilled professionals have joined the team of associate editors. An interim editorial board, which includes three current or former deans of medicine and a former editor of the Annals of Internal Medicine, has been appointed. A search for a new editor-in-chief is under way.
In addition, interim governance guidelines confirming editorial independence at the CMAJ are in place, and a panel chaired by a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Canada, Antonio Lamer, and cochaired by the CMAJ's ombudsman–ethicist, Dr. John Dossetor, reviews the governance structure of the journal. This panel will issue its report shortly.
The CMAJ has been a proud pillar of Canadian medicine since 1911, and it will remain so.
Ruth Collins-Nakai, M.D.
Canadian Medical Association
Ottawa, ON K1G 3Y6, Canada
ruth.collins-nakai@cma.ca
References
Shuchman M, Redelmeier DA. Politics and independence -- the collapse of the Canadian Medical Association Journal. N Engl J Med 2006;354:1337-1339.
The authors reply: Since our article was published, some CMAJ authors have withdrawn articles slated for publication,1 a member of the CMAJ's award-winning news team has resigned over issues concerning editorial autonomy,2 and the number of full-time senior editors has decreased from four to none. Members of the journal oversight committee cannot discover how the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) governs its journal; instead, the CMA has asked the committee members to await the report of a review panel. Regrettably, the chair of the review panel resigned because of illness, and two other panel members resigned because of time constraints. The review, originally due in interim form in May, is now expected in July.3,4
Even more disturbing, since the firing of John Hoey and his senior deputy editor, Anne Marie Todkill, CMA executives have continued to use pressure tactics and to enforce confidentiality restrictions. After our Perspective article appeared, CMA executives endeavored to find the source of our information. After the chair of the review committee invited two outspoken academics to serve on the panel, both were abruptly disinvited, apparently as a result of CMA pressure. This disquieting situation at the CMAJ has inspired discussion of a new Canadian medical journal.5
Miriam Shuchman, M.D.
SUNY Buffalo School of Medicine
Buffalo, NY 14214-3013
Donald A. Redelmeier, M.D.
University of Toronto
Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada
Since the publication of their Perspective article, Dr. Redelmeier has resigned from the CMAJ Editorial Board.
References
Unless CMA responds, prominent authors will withdraw CMAJ submissions. Press release of McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences, Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Hamilton, Ont., Canada, March 28, 2006.
Press release of the Michener Award Foundation announcing the 2005 Michener Award and citations of merit, Ottawa, April 11, 2006. (Accessed June 8, 2006, at http://www.michenerawards.ca/english/winaward2005.htm.)
MacDonald N, Squires B, Downie J, et al. Reflecting on governance for CMAJ. CMAJ 2006;174:1537, 1539-1537, 1539.
CMA/CMAH announces new chair of CMAJ review panel. Press release of the Canadian Medical Association, Ottawa, May 8, 2006.
Singer PA, Guyatt GH. Deeper lessons from the CMAJ debacle. Lancet 2006;367:1551-1553.