A Pressing Problem for Harvard

While we arguing issues whose ramifications are exotic and interesting, we sometimes forget that there are still very real, down-to-earth problems in science today. Students at Harvard Medical School recently uncovered a unacceptable policy with the University: the fact that many of the esteemed faculty members on campus were affiliated with various pharmaceutical companies. These professors then subsequently push for these drugs in classrooms to future doctors. Obviously, this is a very poor system to conduct education. One student even reported being harassed by a professor after he asked what the potential side effects of a drug that was heartily endorsed by the teacher.

In fact, the American Medical Student Association gave Harvard an F in terms of how they over watch drug industry money. The grading process is a great idea, but there should be more done. One idea is to set up a punishment system in order to prevent further transgressions. So far, no official entity regulates the flow of money; this must corrected. This will not prove easy, as the recent economic downturn sapped endowment returns and potential benefactors shy away. However, this is a question of fundamental ethics, and the right thing to do is obvious.