Abstract
All professionals, especially healthcare professionals, have to stay up-to-date with advancements. Our specialty has multiple modes to stay in tune with the innovations and developments. These include conferences, journals, and continuing education programs. While these sessions are rigorously monitored for their content veracity, the commercialization of healthcare has introduced a comparatively glitzy mode to the contemporary orthodontist, and that is symposia conducted by corporates. Some key opinion leaders (KOLs) strut around like proud peacocks and parrot (animal/bird lovers, pardon me) the next product as a panacea. Panacea is incidentally the daughter of the Greek God of Medicine, Asclepius. Legend has it that Asclepius’ kindness to a snake resulted in the snake licking his ears clean and enlightening him with knowledge. This snake, let me make it clear, has no relationship to the phrase “snake oil salesmen.”
The multinational corporates laugh all the way to the bank. Why is there not a world-class orthodontic product from India, when we are the largest society in the world? While that is for another day, returning to the topic, with more and more fashionable symposia, these have become a must-attend program for our naïve and innocent colleagues. They, unfortunately and religiously, carry the newly learned “Noledge” and faithfully (pun unintended) implement it in their clinic. Next year or the next symposium, the cycle repeats, and the faithful only increase in number. “There’s a sucker born every minute” 1 is a quote often associated with P. T. Barnum. The superiority or otherwise of passive self-ligation is a case in point, with practically all scientific literature canning the claims of reduced friction. As is always, the Demon, sorry the Devil, is in the details.
This editorial is not about this unhealthy practice. It is a democratic country, and this editorial is about the systems of checks and balances. If a particular product is marketed as superior, so be it. It is up to the enlightened orthodontist or their lightened purse to decide for their patient. The average orthodontist knows, or is expected to know, that what is touted is without scientific evidence. What happens if this KOL gets to the leadership of the checks and balances system? The Indian Orthodontic Society has always been at the forefront of transparency, and it is the bare minimum that such aspirators should be avoided or at least voluntarily disclose this information of their business understanding. The post of Editor in Chief of the national journal, which provides evidence-based information, should be barred from such KOLs, as there is a huge conflict of interest. The new amendments that are being brought about are a blessing and should be discussed threadbare in the AGM. Conflict of interest in leadership is a huge gray area, and as mentioned in the media, many Indians do not understand it. On the other hand, freedom of speech is absolute in this great democratic nation of ours. At any cost, this should not and cannot be interfered with.
If you cannot lick them, join them, as the saying goes. Can we make the journal more dazzling and glitzy, or should it be “home food”—safe, reliable, trustworthy, and dependable? With most of the symposia attendants belonging to Gen Z, can the scientific journals become “reel” based? Can social media be used by the scientific media, and can the essence of the manuscript be delivered as a reel in 90 seconds or less? Food for thought and calls for a healthy debate. This decision would be best left to my successor since I will be bidding adieu. We are also on the cusp of applying for indexing, and my successor is going to have a busy time.
“May you live in interesting times” 2 is actually a Chinese curse, and the nearest translation is “better to be a dog in times of tranquility than a human in times of chaos.”
My term comes to an end, and to the people I have inadvertently offended with rejections, I apologize. All my decisions were made with the journal at heart. I take this opportunity to thank the Indian Orthodontic Society (IOS), the Presidents I have served under, Dr. Balvinder Singh, Dr. Jayesh Rahalkar, Dr. Puneet Batra, and the President-Elect Dr. Sridevi Padmanabhan. My heartfelt appreciation to the dynamic secretary, Dr. Sanjay Labh, the executive committee members, and most importantly, the members of the IOS for having faith in me and voting me to this distinguished post. A special thanks to my team, Dr. Elbe Peter, Dr. Gowri Sankar, Dr. Harneet Kaur, and Dr. C. Sunitha and all the reviewers for their unstinting support and valuable time.