29 January 2016, Glasgow, the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland Winter Meeting:
This is how a keynote lecturer, a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and NHS doctor, began his CPD-accredited talk:
“You are either abstinent or promiscuous when it comes to industry (financial links with pharmaceutical companies). Well you can see which side I fall on …” [audience laughter followed]
The word ‘PROMISCUOUS’ was chosen by a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists to describe fellow paid opinion leaders in British Psychiatry. It is worth noting this, as the Royal College of Psychiatrists has been openly critical of the language used by those who they have termed ‘campaigners’ but not, as far as I am aware, of the language used here by a College member [or indeed of the audience – all members and fellows of the College – who found this language amusing].
It is also worth noting that this member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists was Chair of SIGN 131 Guideline: Management of Schizophrenia
The Current Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Psychiatrists has stated that College governance of competing financial interests in its members is “sufficiently robust”. I am afraid that I could not disagree more.