The British Medical Journal, the revered commerce publication for medical doctors, is going through outrage from its readers over a call to cost virtually £300 for publishing obituaries throughout a pandemic.
A word on the BMJ’s web site says that from this month the BMJ will probably be charging £299 for every medical obituary that it publishes. There’s a low cost of solely £50 for members of British Medical Affiliation, which owns the journal and whose members obtain copies as a perk.
The choice has been branded particularly insensitive at a time when so many medical doctors are dying of coronavirus. The BMA stated it was “very involved” concerning the transfer and deliberate to lift the difficulty with the journal’s administration.
An internet petition was launched on Monday describing the introduction of a cost for the 600-word obituaries as “disgraceful” and urging the journal to rethink.
Dr Toni Hazell, a GP in Tottenham, north London, and one of many BMJ’s 80,000 readers, informed the Guardian: “To begin this in the mean time when medical doctors are dying of Covid simply appear unbelievably crass.”
She got here throughout the cost as she was contemplating submitting an obituary for her stepfather, Dr David Anton, who died this month from prostate most cancers.
Hazell stated: “My stepfather was a physician within the RAF and he was an occupational well being doctor for the RNLI for a lot of his life. He did a number of good issues and it could simply be fairly good to mark his life with an obituary, however that’s some huge cash. I seemed up the BMJ publishing group’s income, and they aren’t wanting a bob or two.”
She added: “I do know that native papers generally cost for obituaries, however if you’re a BMA member, by the point you die, you could have paid them an terrible lot of cash all through your life.”
Dr Liz Thomas, an intensive care guide from Manchester, tweeted: “I perceive they’re a enterprise, however this simply appears so flawed to me.”
Trevor Pickersgill, a neurologist and BMA chief officer, tweeted in response that the information had come as a shock to him and fellow officers, including: “Right now we’re contacting the administration of @bmj_latest as this was NOT a call made by @TheBMA however by @bmj_latest alone.”
Dr John Hughes, from Manchester, predicted protest motions on the BMA’s subsequent annual representatives assembly if BMJ didn’t rescind the choice. Writing on Twitter, he added: “Notably insensitive timing, when colleagues proceed to lose their lives to Covid.”
A BMA spokesman stated: “We’re very involved by the concept that the BMJ would cost for obituaries. They’re absolutely editorially impartial, however we’re elevating our considerations about this with them instantly.”
The BMJ’s word on its web site stated: “Please word, from 1 February 2021 we will probably be charging for publishing obituaries. The Value is £299, together with VAT, and for BMA members £249 kilos, together with VAT … By continuing with publication, you can be agreeing to pay.
“We remorse we can not give people progress updates, however after publication you’ll obtain an bill for the payment you could have agreed to pay.”
The BMJ has been approached for remark.
