An article and commentary recently published in PLoS by Emma D"Arcy of www.myphid.com in the U.K. and Ray Moynihan of the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, posed the provocative question; can the relationship between physicians and big pharma companies be healthy, and if so, what are the "best practices" for transparency? The authors have different opinions, and both make good points.

There has been some discussion recently about Merck's recent continuing medical education publishing venture with Elsevier: a technically detailed corporate publication with a peer-reviewed look and the weighty name: Australasian Journal of Bone and Joint Medicine.  More on this from the Bioethics Blog.