Stan Kutcher, one co-author of the infamous PAXIL 329 study that validated giving Paxil (antidepressant) to teens though the data showed it could induce suicidal thinking in teens--and was ghostwritten--is in the news again.
Remember, this all came to light due to Kutcher making an unsuccessful run for the Canadian Liberal party, and was noticed by savvy mental health advocate Bob Fiddaman,who 'broke the story' of Kutcher bullying the Coast newspaper into retracting a story about PAXIL 329 featuring Alison Bass and her now infamous 2 word quote "essentially lied".
VIA Pharmalot:
One University does not see ghosts in the attic
.."Kutcher did not respond to messages. Dalhousie University, meanwhile, has similarly been silent on this topic.
Contrast this with another Canadian institution of higher learning, which recently spent eight months investigating one of its professors after allegations of ghostwriting emerged in connection with a study about a hormone replacement therapy sold by Wyeth. Eventually, the listed author, McGill University psychology professor Barbara Sherwin, was exonerated (read about that here).
Why is Dalhousie not taking similar steps? We contacted the university, which is based in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and received an explanation from Nicholas Delva, who heads the department of psychiatry. He says, that while Dalhousie is reviewing its policies concerning relationships with the pharmaceutical industry, he spoke with Kutcher and is confident there is no reason to conduct an investigation."
Continue reading Ed Silverman's article at Pharmalot.
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Stan Kutcher thought the practice of bullying a newspaper when he didn't like the truth stated about the PAXIL 329 or possibly for having his name connected with the scandalous paper would stop the discussion of the ghostwritten study. Kutcher was wrong. He was wrong to bully the Coast into retraction of the story, he was wrong to try and bury the truth as the PAXIL 329 data was buried, and he is wrong to accuse Alison Bass or anyone else with a 'Scientology' explanation for the story.
The facts remain that Kutcher is a co-author of the study and the study, not the Coast story, should be retracted.
Here's a backstory on the Kutcher election scandal.
Here's the apology from the Coast newspaper:
"On April 28th, The Coast published an article online and in print, regarding Dr. Stan Kutcher. In that article, The Coast referenced, without limitation or criticism, statements to the effect that, Dr. Kutcher, being one of the authors of a research paper, distorted the outcome measures and essentially lied. The Coast retracts those statements and without reservation, apologizes to Dr. Kutcher for having published them. We recognize that Stan Kutcher is the federal Liberal candidate in Halifax and we sincerely regret having published those statements during the campaign.
Again, The Coast apologizes to Dr. Kutcher and has agreed to make a donation in his name to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia.
This retraction and apology will also be published on The Coast’s Facebook page, Twitter and will be published in the next edition of The Coast, opposite the editorial page."
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Has anyone asked why the Coast newspaper offered to make a donation in HIS NAME to the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia? Doesn't that sound like blackmail? how much money? is this standard practice of newspapers to retract, apologize, and pay for their 'mistakes'? to prevent lawsuits? or is this standard practice bullying by published KOL psychiatrists?
Could there be a conflict of interest? (see this article referencing the booklet below) Does Dalhousie support Kutcher bullying the Coast ? is that standard practice at the University?
"Suicide is a tragic event, that’s impact is far reaching,” says Dr. Stan Kutcher, the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health. “As one of the leading causes of death for youth 15-24, it leaves more than 300 parents and family members each year grieving and not knowing where to turn."
AND
"The Support After Youth Suicide booklet was generously funded by the Sun Life Financial Chair, the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, the IWK and Dalhousie. In addition, Support After Youth Suicide has received endorsements from Halifax Regional Police, Health Promotion and Protection, Capital Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association and Public Health Services."
"About Dr. Stan Kutcher, MD, FRCPC
Dr. Kutcher is an internationally-renowned expert in the area of adolescent mental health and a national and international leader in mental health research, advocacy, training, policy and health service innovation. Dr. Kutcher most recently served as Associate Dean of International Medical Development and Research with Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Medicine. He is the author of more than 200 scientific papers and author/co-author of a number of medical textbooks. He is an active speaker, reviewer and technical consultant in psychiatry and mental health, working around the world and with various international groups such as Pan American Health Organization and the World Health Organization.
About the Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health
The Sun Life Financial Chair in Adolescent Mental Health was established in October 2006 as an endowed academic chair, in partnership with Sun Life Financial, Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre. The Chair is held by Dr. Stan Kutcher."
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Is a print retraction the typical media response? Why the $$ donation? Will the Coast answer the question of why and how much and is this the paper's standard practice, or did Kutcher blackmail them?
Update:Tim Bousquet says this via Twitter:
"@soulflsepulcher Donation was just the cost of ads he had bought. I forget the $ amount... not huge."
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