patientINFORM that stole Chrismas

[Richard Feinman <RFeinman@downstate.edu>]

What's wrong with patientINFORM, is that it will not only restrict the
disease states that are covered but also particular papers that it deems
unimportant and will thereby

1. decide which papers are too be most widely circulated not only to
patients but to other researchers.  This, in some sense, bypasses peer
review.

2.  deciding which papers are widely available might be considered an
abuse of their copyrights which is just why they may not be the best
people to be holders of copyrights.

3.  make some health organizations de facto advocacy groups rather than
information groups.  There is already some question about this.

These may be men of good will but it is unlikely that patientINFORM will
bring us much peace.
_________

Sent by: owner-liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
To: liblicense-l@lists.yale.edu
Subject: Re: Supporters of NIH Policy See Publishers' Gambit as Possible 
Diversion

Dear liblicense-l readers:  I was disappointed by the press release issued
last Thursday by "Supporters of the NIH Policy" with regard to the
patientINFORM program being launched by a number of publishers.  Surely
there is much to appreciate and welcome about this new resource; if it has
defects, then surely we should comment in a way that respects its virtues.

The project doesn't appear to claim to be a replacement for all biomedical
articles from specialist journals but rather aims for a readable site that
can help the general population to understand some of the most serious of
today's diseases and illnesses.  While it can't address all of them at
once, cancer, heart disease and diabetes make for a good start.
 
Not every discourse needs to be about Open Access business models; not all
projects and announcements need to be pricing negotations. In the spirit
of Christmas and New Year's resolutions, could we all think -- as one of
this list's subscribers wrote privately -- about solving problems rather
than needing to be right?
 
Sincerely, Ann Okerson/liblicense-l moderator (please don't shoot, at 
least not till after the holiday break)