Royal College of Psychiatrists and transparency: “Criticisms of yesteryear”?

For several years now I have written to the Royal College of Psychiatrists regarding an apparent lack of meaningful transparency regarding financial conflicts of interests in our profession.

A recent communication with the Royal College included discussion of the following Conference being held this week in Scotland:

Old Age March 2015 RCPsych

I confirmed to the Treasurer of the Royal College of Psychiatrists my wish to take up the offer to be sent all Declarations of interest of those speaking and involved in this CPD approved Conference:

Nick Craddock on declarations March 2015

The current Chair of the RCPsych Ethics Committee is attending this Old Age Psychiatry Annual Scientific Meeting and stated:

Chair of RCPsych Ethics Committee

Operational Guidance issued by the Royal College of Psychiatrists asks that the following three principles should be followed:

Principles of RCPsych

The Royal College of Psychiatrists newsletter for this month comments on the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry register (or Central Platform as they have termed it) which will not be available till next year. This register, despite what this newsletter says, will have no “force” as healthcare workers can opt-out of revealing any financial payments:

RCPsych March 2015It would seem very clear to me that what is happening, or perhaps not happening in March 2015, should not be labelled as that of “yesteryear”.

Here are some of the paid opinion leaders in UK psychiatry [I have used information available in the public domain to construct visual summaries of the competing interests of some key opinion leaders. I have done so in the spirit of the relevant guidance of the Royal College of Psychiatrists].

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