Medicine in the Media: The Challenge of Reporting Medical Research
In June 2005, the Seattle Times published “Suddenly Sick,” a five-part series by reporters Susan Kelleher and Duff Wilson illustrating the impact of disease definitions on medicine and the power of the pharmaceutical industry in shaping these definitions.
Disease is a relative concept, but medicine often defines it using strict quantitative parameters. For example, a body mass index of 30 or above spells obesity, and blood pressure beyond 140/90 means hypertension. These definitions change with time, as new evidence emerges, changing our understanding of disease. But there are other factors driving these vicissitudes, and they are not always as objective as evidence-based medicine.
According to Kelleher and Wilson’s report, pharmaceutical companies have commandeered the process by which diseases are defined, influencing members of high-profile organizations such as the World Health Organization and prominent medical societies—the people who play a key role in defining disease—through financial donations.
Revisions in disease definitions are not always backed by powerful scientific evidence, and often these revisions have a broadening effect, bringing more people under the disease umbrella. For example, reducing the “normal” blood sugar by a few units pushes thousands of people previously considered non-diabetic into the diabetic category. And this expands the drug market by huge dollar margins, creating millions, if not billions, of dollars in additional profits for the pharmaceutical industry.
Kelleher recently spoke before an audience of health reporters at Medicine in the Media, a conference sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health, which convenes every year to addresses the challenges of reporting medical research. Kelleher shared some of the wisdom she has gleaned in reporting “Suddenly Sick” and many other medical stories.
This presentation was part of a 3 day course offered to journalists by the National Institute of Health.
The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Medical Applications of Research (OMAR) presents a free annual training opportunity to help develop journalists’ ability to evaluate and report on medical research. Now in its sixth year, the course curriculum builds on the best of prior years’ offerings to create an intensive learning experience with hands-on application. This year’s course will he held at an idyllic, retreat-like setting near Bethesda, Maryland.
The course examines the challenges and opportunities inherent in the process of communicating the results of medical research to the public. Stressing an evidence-based approach and re-examining intuitive beliefs about medicine, the course will prepare participants for the crucial task of interpreting and evaluating research findings including statistics, selecting stories that hold meaningful messages for the public, and placing them in the appropriate context.
Faculty include prominent experts from the fields of medical research and medical journalism. Sessions will be interactive, with hands-on opportunities to apply lessons learned, and will incorporate journalists’ special perspectives on the public’s need for useful medical knowledge.
We invite application by journalists whose primary target audience is the general public. Applicants may produce news stories about health or healthcare for newspapers, magazines, or newsletters; television or radio; or on-line media. Participants should be eager to develop skills and knowledge necessary for good medical science reporting, but need not have specific experience or background in medical journalism.
There is no cost for the course. All meals and lodging are provided. Participants are responsible for their own travel. Learn more…
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