Our Dedication
Medical Accountability Network is dedicated to establishing integrity* in medicine. SmartMEDinfo content is written, reviewed and edited by physicians and pharmacists who feel that patient rights are key to effective and responsible medical treatment. We consider that informed consent is the foundation of an ethical physician/patient relationship.
Our History
Medical Accountability Network was started in 2005. For several years the Medical Accountability Network ran a website on topics relating to informed consent. It was initially formed to encourage conversation in academic and professional circles, but the overwhelming majority of the interest came from patients themselves. We recognized the need for a consumer-oriented website that gave information in a way that could be understood by non-medical people. SmartMEDinfo answers that need.
Our Purpose. Our purpose is to empower consumers with the tools that will encourage them to truly find out about what is known and not known about the safety and effectiveness of the treatments that are offered to them. We select topics for the website based on the challenges they present to informed consent, choosing to cover some of the more controversial issues, or topics about which false or misleading information is prevalent.
Why This Is Necessary
It is no secret that direct to consumer advertising creates great demand from the public for new, expensive medications. It is not as well appreciated that the overwhelming majority of consumer medical information websites are directly or indirectly funded by drug company manufacturers and distributors. It is also not well known that doctors rely heavily on drug company or device-maker brochures to get their information. Even medical journals are swayed by their advertising clients- the drug makers. Disease-specific patient advocacy groups and non-profit foundations are oftentimes practically run by their generous drug company sponsors. There has long been a need for unbiased, straight talking doctors and pharmacists who have the patients’ interests at heart. SmartMEDinfo fills that need.
Our Executive Director
Dr. Moira Dolan is Executive Director of the Medical Accountability Network and primary editor for SmartMedInfo.com. She is a 1984 graduate of University of Illinois Medical School, and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Dolan has provided consultations on Informed Consent, medical ethics and integrity to private industry, government agencies, advocacy groups and the legal profession. Dr. Dolan has no financial ties whatsoever to any drug manufacturers or biological device firms.
*Integrity: Freedom from corrupting influence or motive, Webster,1913; Steadfast adherence to a strict moral or ethical code, American Heritage, 2000.
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