Harvard Med Hits Headlines for Ethical Issues

While the Globe is busy covering Boston's best break-up spots and the Herald tracks hissy fits over T&G pics, the New York Times expands on Harvard's supposed tightening of med school regulations. According to the Times, Harvard med students (and some faculty) are up in arms about the close ties between professors and pharmaceutical companies, on campus and off. With many teaching faculty at Harvard on the payroll of drug companies, it looks a little suspicious when the docs recommend certain drugs over others. Things may be on the mend: Harvard recently required professors to disclose their professional relationships in class, and the dean has organized a committee to evaluate the school's conflict of interest policy. Still, the main issue is money: lots of it can come from these relationships. Should Harvard toe the ethical line and keep profitable connections, or should it clean things up to maintain the integrity of the medical profession? We wouldn't be surprised to see Harvard remain all about the Benjis—particularly given its apparent liquidity crisis.