Catalyst program on heart disease breached ABC standards
The ABC breached its standards on impartiality in part of a Catalyst program series on heart disease which presented controversial views on the role of cholesterol control drugs statins.
Catalyst’s two part series aired last October entitled Heart of the Matter drew fire from several health professionals after it presented controversial views on the role saturated fat has on cholesterol levels and heart disease in the first part, and looked at whether statins are an appropriate treatment for heart disease in the second.
The program aired on ABC1 in October generated 146 complaints, 91 of which raised editorial matters requiring response and prompted an investigation by the ABC’s independent Audience and Consumer Affairs (A&CA) unit. Its findings released today found the first part of the series adhered to the codes, however the second episode breaches ABC standards on impartiality.
It has now been removed from the ABC website.
In regards to episode two, titled ‘cholesterol drug war’, the AC&A reported “flaws with the programs presentation did result in a finding that editorial standards had been breached as the program’s treatment of the use of statins “focused solely on mortality benefits in a way that reinforced the view that statins were overprescribed and their benefits exaggerated.”
“The principal relevant perspective that statins have wider benefits for this group was not properly presented,” the AC&A reported. “This perspective was necessary to a fair understanding of the pros and cons of statin use in this group.
“Furthermore, by omitting a principal relevant view – held by the National Heart Foundation and other experts – that statins are useful in primary prevention if carefully targeted, the program had the effect of unduly favouring the perspective that statins are ineffective in primary prevention.
“Our findings in relation to the second episode are necessarily different because a principal relevant perspective about the effectiveness of statins – a topic central to the program – was not presented.”
As the two episodes are linked, the ABC has been required to remove both episodes from its website and information will be added to the program website and the ABC corrections page to advise of the steps that have been taken.
The ABC has also been required to take corrective action to address an innaccurate statement made by Dr Maryanne Demasi, said to have misrepresented the National Heart Foundation, during an interview on the program PM.
Dr Demasi’s statements on the program prompted complaints from the National Heart Foundation which claimed evidence given was “untrue and deeply offensive”.
The AC&A said although it was a live radio interview, the view presented was a “misleading oversimplification which failed to acknowledge the clear and important areas of disagreement between the National Heart Foundation and the overall proposition being presented in the programs”.
An editor’s note has been added to the PM program transcript of its story ‘Backlash against ABC’s Catalyst program questioning heart disease-cholesterol links’, as well as to the ABC Corrections page.
“The note on the Catalyst website will also reinforce the advice made in the original programs, that viewers should not make any changes to their prescribed regimen of medications without seeking appropriate medical advice,” said Mark Scott, managing director of the ABC.
He added: “As the A&CA report shows, this has been a thorough investigation involving complex issues and a wide range of material.
“The Catalyst programs were very engaging, attracted large audiences and clearly touched on an issue of importance to many Australians. The link between statins and heart disease is a matter warranting investigation and coverage on our programs. The issue has been extensively covered overseas and continues to be the subject of debate within medical circles. I would like to see our science programs on radio and TV work together to revisit it, whilst taking absolute care to comply with our rigorous editorial policies.”
The report of the investigation is available here.
Megan Reynolds
This program was also criticised on ABC’s “Media Watch” in November.
http://www.abc.net.au/mediawat.....888657.htm
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In 100 years hence we will know these times as Big Pharma, and will shake our heads in disbelief just as we know do at Big Tobacco.
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We should be looking in to Big Pharma and Catalyst was right to investigate this. Nothing wrng with investigating The Heart Foundation, they have so much power over what people are eating and the cholesterol myths out there. What if what we are being told to eat is wrong? There should be more questioning of this. But, sadly, with the attacks on Catalyst, this could stop happening.
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