Rep. Price Cites Bogus "New England Journal of Medicine" Study
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During an interview with CNN’s Rick Sanchez, Rep. Tom Price (R-GA) claimed that the New England Journal of Medicine "came out with a study" showing that one-third of the nation’s doctors would leave medicine because of health care reform. In reality, the unscientific poll was conducted by The Medicus Firm and the New England Journal of Medicine denied any association with its findings.
Rep. Price: "The New England Journal of Medicine Came Out With A Study…"
Rep. Tom Price:
The New England Journal of Medicine came out with a study just last week that said that one-third of the physicians of this land may leave the practice of medicine. The New England Journal of Medicine — no friend of conservatives — say that the doctors of this land are very concerned about what this bill includes. [CNN via YouTube, 4/1/10]
Study Was Not Conducted By NEJM
Poll Was Conducted By The Medicus Firm. According to Forbes.com:
The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), one of medicine’s most respected journals, did not publish such a poll. Apparently, in an earlier version of a web-based story posted on their jobs page, they reported the results of a poll conducted by a physician recruitment firm. […] The Medicus Firm, a physician recruitment company, conducted an unscientific poll of some physicians regarding health care reform. The announcement was entitled, "Health Reform May Lead to Significant Reduction in Physician Workforce". [Forbes.com, 3/18/10]
NEJM: Poll "Does Not Represent The Opinions Of The New England Journal Of Medicine." The New England Journal of Medicine Career Center posted the following statement in reference to the Medicus Firm survey:
"Recruiting Physicians Today is a free advertiser newsletter published by the Worldwide Advertising Sales and Marketing Department in the publishing division of the Massachusetts Medical Society. Each issue of the newsletter features research and content produced by physician recruiting firms and other independent groups involved in physician employment.
On December 17, 2009 The Medicus Firm, a national physician search firm based in Dallas and Atlanta, published the results of a survey they conducted with 1,000 physicians regarding their attitudes toward health reform. To read their survey results at The Medicus Firm website, click here.
The opinions expressed in the article linked to above represent those of The Medicus Firm only. That article does not represent the opinions of the New England Journal of Medicine or the Massachusetts Medical Society." [NEJMjobs.org, 3/28/10, emphasis added]
–Media Matters Action Network
Rep. Price Cites Bogus "New England Journal of Medicine" Study | Media Matters Action Network