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Research

Fifty years of violent war deaths from Vietnam to Bosnia: analysis of data from world health survey program

When one respondent per household reported on siblings' deaths, the estimated total of war deaths in 13 countries from 1955 to 2002 was 5.4 million, three times more than suggested by routine surveillance, and media reports. The accompanying editorial says that the new method used in the study to measure deaths from conflict is promising but is still likely to result in underestimates.

Comment

Independent experts or drug representatives in disguise?

Key opinion leader is a term used to describe the senior doctors who help drug companies sell drugs. Ray Moynihan examines their role and interviews industry insiders, including Kimberly Elliott (pictured), a former award-winning drug company sales representative. See the two BMJ TV video clips.

Comment

Should the drug industry work with key opinion leaders?

Yes, says Charlie Buckwell. They are extremely capable of expressing their views, focusing on the right decision for patients, and maintaining their independence. No, says Giovanni Fava, who argues that it threatens scientific integrity.

Podcast

Copayments in the NHS

The NHS might have to attract more private money to improve standards, Chris Ham, professor of health policy and management at Birmingham University, told the inaugural BMJ Publishing Group annual lecture. Listen to his lecture as a podcast. The government is to review a longstanding rule that forbids NHS patients in England from topping up their treatment by buying drugs that are not available in the UK.

Comment

Preventing injury in childhood

Injury surveillance in the UK lags behind that in other European countries, says this editorial to mark UK Child Safety Week (starting 23 June). The government must find the resources to develop population based injury surveillance systems so that the true incidence, causes, and risk factors, can be used to inform evidence based intervention, it adds.

News

Psychiatrist admits plagiarism but denies dishonesty

One of Britain's best known psychiatrists, Raj Persaud, admitted several allegations of plagiarism before a General Medical Council panel in Manchester.

News

GlaxoSmithKline tops list of companies making drugs accessible to poor countries

Drug companies in Europe do more to make drugs available and affordable to the world's poor countries than their counterparts in the US or Japan, concludes a new type of assessment of company policies.

News

Research organisations join forces to develop treatments for neglected diseases

Two research organisations based in Paris - the Institute of Research for Development and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative - have announced that they will work together to develop new candidate drugs to treat visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas's disease, and sleeping sickness.