News: Over-use of psychotropic drugs in Chicago nursing homes

Wrongful use of anti-psychotic drugs to quiet annoying patients led to 12 deaths and many accidents in Chicago's nursing homes in recent years, according to an article in a series running in the Chicago Tribune. Calling the series "Compromised Care," the paper is exposing the deplorable services, criminal acts, and dysfunctional monitoring of programs and safety of Illinois nursing home residents. . .
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From Our Readers: Apology to Infinite Mind
Bill Lichtenstein sends this note about an apology from On the Media, the NPR program about journalism. [March 19, 2009] NPR's "On The Media" this week corrected its November 28, 2008 report that accused the executive producer of "The Infinite Mind" public radio series of having known that the show's host, Dr. Fred Goodwin, had received $1.2 million in fees for giving marketing lectures on behalf of pharmaceutical companies, while he was hosting the program. In its on-air correction, "On...
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Consider This: Celebrities, stigma, and re-runs
. . .an update
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From Our Readers: Bill Lichtenstein, The Infinite Mind, responds to MIWatch
Dear Editor, I am responding as executive producer of the public radio series The Infinite Mind to two issues you raised in your posting of November 25, 2008 regarding the $1.2 million in undisclosed speaking fees paid to the program's host, Dr. Fred Goodwin, by GlaxoSmithKline. First, I want to respond to your assertion that I "ignored ominous signs" about Goodwin's acceptance of the speaking fees. This is not true. In fact, the staff and I acted affirmatively and diligently...
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News: New magazine about anxiety and depression
A Buffalo-based publisher launched a new magazine, Esperanza, focusing on anxiety and depression. Mariel Hemingway is on the cover of the premier issue. Esperanza means "hope."...
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News: Reactions to Biederman, Goodwin, The Infinite Mind
Reactions to news about psychiatrists who failed to disclose their working relationships with drug companies appeared over the weekend. On the Media aired a segment discussing the relationship between producers of The Infinite Mind and Dr. Fred Goodwin. Producer Bill Lichtenstein replied to the show in an email. Lichtenstein spoke to The Injury Board which posted documents including a copy of Goodwin's contract. "Expert or Shill?" read the New York Times headline on Sunday's editorial page. In a very brief...
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Consider This: Goodwin under the bus
. . .and journalism ethics?
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Consider This: When the press gets it right. . .
Three items of note
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News: Funding The Infinite Mind
Slate.com kicked off a controversy when it posted a story challenging the credibility of a segment about Prozac aired on The Infinite Mind, noting that neither the panelists nor the host disclosed a connection to Eli Lilly. Bill Lichtenstein, producer of the award-winning show shot back that they turned to the best experts to answer a question about "links between antidepressant medications and out-of-control behavior." The controversy is entering a new phase with NPR weighing in about the show it...
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News: Substandard treatment of immigrants
Suicide and dubious management of psychiatric conditions point to mistreatment of immigrants held in detention at the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Investigative journalists Dana Priest and Amy Goldstein for the The Washington Post report “substandard medical care,” and how “people with mental illness are relegated to the darkest and most neglected corners of the system.”...
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Consider This: All hail a muscular press
Hail a muscular press
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