News

The Canadian Medical Association moved to try to salvage its battered medical journal Tuesday, announcing that Antonio Lamer, retired chief justice of the Supreme Court, would head a panel that will make recommendations on the future governance structure of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

Dr. Noni MacDonald, a Halifax pediatrician who has been serving on the CMAJ's journal oversight board, was named interim editor. Dr. Bruce Squires, a retired former editor of the journal, was named editor emeritus.

The announcement was made by the CMA and CMA Holdings, which serves as publisher of the embattled journal, which has been rocked by a controversy over editorial autonomy.

Former editor Dr. John Hoey and his senior deputy, Anne Marie Todkill, were fired by CMA Holdings president Graham Morris on Feb. 20 in what Morris described as an attempt to refresh the journal's leadership.

Others, including the journal's editorial board, have insisted the firings were the culmination of a battle over editorial independence with Mr. Morris and members of the CMA.

“The CMAJ has benefited greatly from a long line of excellent editors who led the CMA's flagship publication to its current highly-respected stature,” said CMA president Dr. Ruth Collins-Nakai in a statement, her first public comment on the dispute.

“I know Drs. MacDonald and Squires will build on that success.”

In the release, the CMA announced that until Judge Lamer's committee reports, the journal will be governed by a nine-point plan.

The plan is similar, but not identical to, one written by Dr. Stephen Choi, a former deputy editor who resigned when the CMA refused to adopt his 10-point plan aimed at insuring independence of the journal.

Missing from the CMA version is the line: “Editorial independence of the editor-in-chief will be absolutely protected and respected by CMA/CMAH management.”

Also excised from the CMA's plan were Dr. Choi's proposal that the journal oversight committee serve as the search committee if the editor-in-chief's position becomes vacant and a ban on members of the CMA board from serving as chair of the journal oversight committee.

Mr. Morris had twice in recent months injected himself into editorial decisions at the journal, demanding editors change two stories seen to have been politically sensitive for the CMA.

The departure of Dr. Choi and another editor, Sally Murray, left the respected 95-year-old journal without any full-time editors.

The CMA said the journal's ombudsman-ethicist Dr. John Dossetor will serve as vice-chair of the review panel. Lamer and Dossetor will select the other members of the panel, who will be drawn from publishing, scientific research, medical practice and related areas, the statement said.

Judge Lamer's committee is to report to the CMA and CMA Holdings within 90 days.