Complaint
A viewer complained that coverage of a conference held by the European Association for the Study of Obesity failed to mention a trial of two key drugs was supported and funded by a pharmaceutical company, wrongly giving the impression the research was independent. The ECU considered the complaint in the light of the BBC’s editorial standards of accuracy.
Outcome
The report in question included a brief explanation of the results of a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine which compared two drugs used for the treatment of obesity. In the ECU’s view, the correspondent gave a duly accurate explanation of the findings and, given the research was peer-reviewed and the funding publicly disclosed, it was not essential to tell viewers the study was funded by the company which manufactures one of the drugs.
Not Upheld