Editorial independence at the BMJ
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《英国医生杂志》
EDITOR—Smith wrote about editorial independence at the BMJ.1 A parallel situation exists in Sri Lanka.
The Ceylon Medical Journal is a quarterly publication of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. The two editors of the journal are appointed by the council of the association every three years and they become ex officio members of the council. The journal is independent, like the BMJ, although it bears no explicit statement that the views expressed in the journal are those of the authors and may not necessarily comply with the policy of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
However, in August 2000 it was brought to the notice of the council that two fillers appearing under the caption "Economist on the LTTE" could damage the reputation of the Sri Lanka Medical Association because the Ceylon Medical Journal has been an official publication of the association.2 3 The journal's editors agreed to make observations to the council on this matter.
When comparing this situation to the BMJ, although the editors must be accountable, the new reporting arrangements of the BMJ editor must not affect editorial independence. The BMA tradition of editorial independence should be continued and should set an example to similar journals published in other countries. To ensure accountability, ideally an oversight committee should act as a buffer between the BMA and the editor.
This committee cannot infringe editorial freedom. It should remain as an advisory body on matters of controversial interests that affect the BMA. Eminent professionals and editors of other medical journals together with wider representation from outside the United Kingdom should be members. This would ensure a healthy atmosphere for discussion and deliberations that make the task of the editor easier.
Murali Vallipuranathan, medical officer
Department of Health, 385 Deans Road, Colombo-10, Sri Lanka drmurali_1999@yahoo.com
Competing interests: MV has been a member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association's council since 2000.
References
Smith R. Editor's choice. Editorial independence at the BMJ. BMJ 2004;329: 0-g. (10 July.)
Economist on the LTTE(1). Ceylon Med J 2000;45: 51.
Economist on the LTTE(2). Ceylon Med J 2000;45: 54.
The Ceylon Medical Journal is a quarterly publication of the Sri Lanka Medical Association. The two editors of the journal are appointed by the council of the association every three years and they become ex officio members of the council. The journal is independent, like the BMJ, although it bears no explicit statement that the views expressed in the journal are those of the authors and may not necessarily comply with the policy of the Sri Lanka Medical Association.
However, in August 2000 it was brought to the notice of the council that two fillers appearing under the caption "Economist on the LTTE" could damage the reputation of the Sri Lanka Medical Association because the Ceylon Medical Journal has been an official publication of the association.2 3 The journal's editors agreed to make observations to the council on this matter.
When comparing this situation to the BMJ, although the editors must be accountable, the new reporting arrangements of the BMJ editor must not affect editorial independence. The BMA tradition of editorial independence should be continued and should set an example to similar journals published in other countries. To ensure accountability, ideally an oversight committee should act as a buffer between the BMA and the editor.
This committee cannot infringe editorial freedom. It should remain as an advisory body on matters of controversial interests that affect the BMA. Eminent professionals and editors of other medical journals together with wider representation from outside the United Kingdom should be members. This would ensure a healthy atmosphere for discussion and deliberations that make the task of the editor easier.
Murali Vallipuranathan, medical officer
Department of Health, 385 Deans Road, Colombo-10, Sri Lanka drmurali_1999@yahoo.com
Competing interests: MV has been a member of the Sri Lanka Medical Association's council since 2000.
References
Smith R. Editor's choice. Editorial independence at the BMJ. BMJ 2004;329: 0-g. (10 July.)
Economist on the LTTE(1). Ceylon Med J 2000;45: 51.
Economist on the LTTE(2). Ceylon Med J 2000;45: 54.