I thought we had been through this in 2006, when the CMA fired Dr. John Hoey and resolved it would not happen again.1 For a time, I withdrew any contributions from CMAJ, including submissions and peer review, and encouraged colleagues not to support a journal that appeared to have been stripped of its editorial freedom.
Now the CMA Board, or whomever it takes instruction from, appears to have repeated its mistake.2
Our CMAJ helped pioneer reform in medical publishing through enhanced oversight and transparency of conflict of interest and mandatory clinical trial registration. With other small national medical journals in Croatia, Denmark and New Zealand, CMAJ exerted crucial influence in the international movement to increase truth and reduce distortions or outright lies in medical scientific publishing. Many courageous and insightful people have participated in this ongoing reform, but Canadian physicians and academics punch well above our weight.
What is wrong with a CMA Board that fails to recognize CMAJ’s accomplishments? As the former Journal Oversight Committee members lament, why has the Board not learned from the past or Dick Pound’s constructive criticism?3
I am astonished and disappointed that CMA leaders don’t appear to feel any responsibility to communicate frankly with CMA members. Why was Dr. John Fletcher fired? Why was the Journal Oversight Committee dismissed?
The University of British Columbia has learned recently that avoiding questions about the mysterious firing of its president simply undermines confidence in the board and ensures that unresolved issues continue to simmer. Just because many CMA members don’t bother to vote in Board elections does not mean it’s OK for the board to rule by divine right.
From respect for CMAJ’s remaining editors and the journal’s accomplishments, I will continue to volunteer as a peer reviewer, and I’ll still encourage colleagues and students to read important articles (including news). But I’m keeping a wary eye out for what happens next.