Posted: Friday, February 26, 2010

ACSH IN THE NEWS
Publication Date: February 26, 2010

A piece by Thomas A. Maugh II about the journal PLoS Medicine rejecting any studies produced with tobacco money appeared in the Los Angeles Times on February 26, 2010 and quoted ACSH's Jeff Stier on a contrary note (as did an L.A. Times' blog on February 25, 2010):

Because publication in journals like PLoS Medicine is funded by research sponsors, "we believe it would be irresponsible to act as part of the machinery that enhances the reputation of an industry producing health-harming products."

Second, "we remain concerned about the industry's long-standing attempts to distort the science of and deflect attention away from the harmful effects of smoking...We do not wish to provide a forum for companies' attempts to manipulate the science of tobacco's harms."

Not everyone agrees with the editors. Jeff Stier of the American Council on Science and Health said, "By deciding to no longer allow for research funded in any part by the tobacco industry, they're acknowledging that they're no longer able to evaluate science."