What is Wrong with Medical Authors Getting Paid

[lucylocket61]

I dont understand this problem with people who write helpful books making money.

What about all the hours they spent in research and writing? The time spent travelling to give lectures and interviews?

I can understand if they are asking astonishing amounts of money for their "secret" cure, or lining up their Learjets, or publishing obviously dangerous and inaccurate info.

But in the main, they are not. They list all their sources for the reader to access and check the facts and research. They give their message in interviews (complete with references) so you dont need to buy the book to get the message.

In the case of some of them like Dr Briffa, the books give the "in depth" information, but the basics are freely available on their websites and blog. They spend time interacting, blogging and replying to questions and engaging in discussions. Isnt that time worth payment?

They are not independently wealthy people on the whole, they need to live and support their families, just as we do.

Lets give them a break here.

 

[Defren]

This is probably going to be the most unusual post I ever write, but I do understand what Nigel was saying. The author himself said he didn't make money out of the food industry a et al, so Nigel asked if he donated to a charity.

All authors make money from their books and so they should. I know JK Rowlings donates to charity, so it's not a huge leap to ask if other authors do too. I guess some authors make a lot more than others, I doubt many medical books are going to make the author a millionaire.

I am pleased there are authors who write about things like cholesterol and Statins, lets be honest, few of us would be as informed as we are without people researching and writing such books. It is then a choice that we have to make ourselves educated toward individual issues, so when we make a decision regarding our health, we can do it from an informed viewpoint. I have learned so much from this forum, and links (usually Borofergie's) regarding diabetes, diet, exercise, eating plans, etc, etc. Without people writing those articles, Stephen couldn't have posted them and I couldn't have read them. Now I have educated myself, I feel I hold a much bigger bargaining chip with my GP about my care/health and ultimately treatment.

 

[phoenix]

If books have a specific viewpoint/bias then they may be a conflict of interest in the same way as a researcher who is paid to produce research . People have to read criticality and make up their own minds as to the value of the book/research.

In the real world these areas aren't clear cut.
To give a real life example; there is a prominent vitamin researcher whose research points to a need for that vitamin. His wife is the owner of a company that produces and markets that vitamin. Is this because he and his wife are convinced ? or is his research influenced by the sales potential?
Similarly another writer mentioned on a recent thread promulgates in his books a certain supplement which he just happens to sell through his website. I suggest this is at the very least a possible conflict of interest.

There are other authors that make a good living from books and undoubtedly spend time writing them who I would criticise for claiming credentials they don't have or (I feel, and morality is probably a personal thing) ) they have no credibility because of their previous behaviour .
Examples ne self accredited nutritionist with a Phd from a degree mill ; a doctor who has lost his licence for malpractice and now writes books with a newly adopted controversial thesis ; a well known figure who gained an income from being the affiliate of a diet scheme which he defended aggressively. The scheme was considered by many at the time to be dangerous and later found to be completely fraudulent.
If these people get mentioned , yes I'll also point these things out.
They earn money from writing books but are their opinions worth having?

 

[librarising]

Defren wrote
The author himself said he didn't make money out of the food industry a et al, so Nigel asked if he donated to a charity.

No. What he actually said is

I don't profit from cultivating cholesterol paranoia.

It really is as simple as 'follow the money.'
Where does some of the vast fortunes statin companies make end up ?
When you can answer that you might understand what Dr Kendrick is saying.

Geoff (who doesn't have a problem with anyone selling anything, unless they're the only ones with the 'magic formula.' If you intend buying anything, the first thing you should do is engage brain. It's all very simple.)(fighting the drive to complicate things)

 

[lucylocket61]

Yes Geoff, that was partly the point i was trying to make

I don't profit from cultivating cholesterol paranoia.

I dont think the authors like Dr Briffa and other familiar names are trying to cultivate paranoia and scare people needlessly for some financial kickback. They are making a legitimate living choosing to inform people and enable them to make educated choices. That is all.

I wonder if the same people who object to them getting paid, also object to Doctors and Consultants and Nurses getting paid for their life-saving work?

 

[borofergie]

This is probably going to be the most unusual post I ever write, but I do understand what Nigel was saying. The author himself said he didn't make money out of the food industry a et al, so Nigel asked if he donated to a charity.

All authors make money from their books and so they should. I know JK Rowlings donates to charity, so it's not a huge leap to ask if other authors do too. I guess some authors make a lot more than others, I doubt many medical books are going to make the author a millionaire.

I'm sure that Taubes and Rowlings have made multiple millions of pounds throught the sale of their books (good on them). Most authors make very little money. It is patently ridiculous to suggest that someone invests time and effort researching and writing a book and then should be required to dontate that money to charity.

Who here would be prepared to donate their entire salary to charity? I'll tell you the answer: no-one. John 8:7

It's just another cheap ad hominem attack method against authors that people don't agree with.

 

[Defren]

This is probably going to be the most unusual post I ever write, but I do understand what Nigel was saying. The author himself said he didn't make money out of the food industry a et al, so Nigel asked if he donated to a charity.

All authors make money from their books and so they should. I know JK Rowlings donates to charity, so it's not a huge leap to ask if other authors do too. I guess some authors make a lot more than others, I doubt many medical books are going to make the author a millionaire.

I'm sure that Taubes and Rowlings have made multiple millions of pounds throught the sale of their books (good on them). Most authors make very little money. It is patently ridiculous to suggest that someone invests time and effort researching and writing a book and then should be required to dontate that money to charity.

Who here would be prepared to donate their entire salary to charity? I'll tell you the answer: no-one. John 8:7

It's just another cheap ad hominem attack method against authors that people don't agree with.

Wrists firmly slapped. I don't believe an author should be attacked because of their views. As I said, I do believe they should make money from all the time effort and research that goes into writing these books. I suppose giving to charity is a personal thing, but I look at it that if we (Jo/e public) are expected to give, then why not everyone, including authors? I am fully aware Nigel is not a follower of Taubes et al, so I shall bow out gracefully.

 

[KennyS]

Perhaps this is why authors should be paid for the time and research and effort............. Some may have assimilated bad information or like many for profits they may have an ulterior motive but if the bring to light a view that is not held by the establishment, they have done a public service. Every time we visit the doctor or read a main stream article we must, with our own reasoning, decide if we believe them or not.... the same is true of authors..... The difference is that we pay an author for information we choose to digest... we have little choice with what we read, hear and see in the mainstream.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_b ... ience.html

Kenny