Influential Psychiatrist Radio Host Loses Job, Earned $1.3 Million From Drug Companies

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Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Bipolar;  Public Health
Article Date: 22 Nov 2008 - 7:00 PDT

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Psychiatrist Dr. Frederick K. Goodwin, host to the popular radio program The Infinite Mind, has lost his radio hosting job after Senator Charles E. Grassley revealed that he had received $1.3 million from pharmaceutical companies during the period 2000-2007. Dr. Goodwin used to be director of the National Institute of Mental Health.

How widespread this practice has been among media figures is unclear, as Dr. Goodwin is just the first one to be investigated.

It is not uncommon for Dr. Goodwin to deal with themes which could have a significant impact on the business interests of drug makers. On September 20th, 2005, he said that kids with bipolar disorder faced the risk of brain damage if they were not treated. He went on to say that modern treatments, especially mood stabilizers "have proven both safe and effective in bipolar children."

What Goodwin did not reveal on the radio was that during that very day, September 25th, 2005, he had been given $2,500 by GlaxoSmithKline to lecture on Lamictal - a mood stabilizing drug. It was a promotional lecture that took place at the Ritz Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, Florida. Investigators also found that Goodwin received over $329,000 during that year from GlaxoSmithKline for promoting Lamictal.

Goodwin explains that he had not been aware that receiving money from drug companies might be an issue (regarding his radio hosting). He said his producer, Bill Lichtenstein knew all about it.

Lichtenstein stresses that he knew nothing about Goodwin's financial relationships with drug makers. In fact, according to Lichtenstein, Goodwin had been asked by him earlier this year about this, and had been assured that he did not receive funding from pharmaceutical companies. Lichtenstein added that receiving funding from pharmaceutical companies would have "violated our agreement".

The Infinite Mind will be pulled from the radio station next week, said Margaret Low Smith, VP, National Public Radio. Smith added that the program would not have been aired if the National Public Radio had known about Goodwin's financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry.

Below is a statement by National Public Radio

Recent news reports have raised questions about the public radio program "The Infinite Mind" and its host Dr. Frederick Goodwin. The following statement is to clarify NPR's relationship to the program:

"The Infinite Mind" is not an NPR program. NPR does not produce "The Infinite Mind," nor does NPR distribute the program or market it to our member stations. No one associated with "The Infinite Mind" team is an NPR employee.

"The Infinite Mind" has aired on one of two channels that NPR programs on Sirius Satellite Radio. All programs on NPR's Sirius channels are expected to adhere to the same code of ethics and practices that apply to programs produced and distributed by NPR. It appears that "The Infinite Mind" was in direct violation of that code, and is being removed from the channel."

Written by Christian Nordqvist


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