WHO and Conflict of Interest; Chan versus Godlee

Without base, or substance, the WHO has come under fire for not having disclosed financial ties of some of its advisers regarding the influenza pandemic of last year.  It turns out the BMJ published an accusatory article, and accompanying editorial.  These accusations will persist in the blogosphere, despite very forceful and rightful fight back by Dr Chan (WHO director) and colleagues.  It seems that the BMJ editors are only is interested in self promotion of an agenda that has no basis.  If no influence is found (which will not be) then the WHO should press on with a request for a retraction, or at the very least an apology.

It is worth noting that criticisms for those who work with industry come  from people like Dr. F Godlee, who has no track record in having worked ever with industry. A quick Pub Med search reveals that most of her publications are commentaries while on editorial boards, and little in the way of original research.  One can easily conclude that her agitation and suspicion arises from a fundamental lack of understanding of the process of research involving industry.