Dr. Frederick K. Goodwin, an influential psychiatrist who was the host of the popular public radio program “The Infinite Mind”, earned at least $1.3 million from 2000 to 2007 giving marketing lectures for drugmakers. He did not mention this income on the program.
Dr. Goodwin’s weekly radio programs have often touched on subjects important to the commercial interests of the companies he is connected to. In one broadcast, he warned that children with bipolar disorder who were left untreated could suffer brain damage, a controversial view. That same day, GlaxoSmithKline paid Dr. Goodwin $2,500 to give a promotional lecture for its mood stabilizer drug, Lamictal. GlaxoSmithKline paid him more than $329,000 to promote Lamictal that year.
Margaret Low Smith, vice president of National Public Radio, said that “The Infinite Mind” would be removed from its satellite radio service next week, the earliest date possible. Ms. Smith said that had NPR been aware of Dr. Goodwin’s financial interests, it would not have broadcast the program.