my 11/29/15 correspondence with university of colorado professor robert eckel md re: his decision to...

Below is my complete correspondence with Dr. Robert H. Eckel on the evening of November 29, 2015 re: his decision to remove his name from the November 5, 2015 retraction request letter sent by CSPI to the BMJ. For clarity, I've simplified the e-mail headers – PMH

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To: Robert Eckel <[email protected]>From: Peter Heimlich <[email protected]>Subject: blogger inquiryDate: Sunday, November 29, 2015

Dear Dr. Eckel,

I'd appreciate your answer to a quick question for an item I'm reporting for my blog about this November 5, 2015letter from the Committee for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) to the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that youco-signed: http://cspinet.org/bmj-retraction-letter.html

Before I get to my question, I wanted to explain that my item is not about medical or scientific issues. In fact, until recently I'd never heard of the U.S Dietary Guidelines. I first learned about the Guidelines via Dr. David L. Katz about whom I was reporting an unrelated story: http://www.the-sidebar.com/2015/11/what-katz-hears-after-being-busted-for.html

That led me to the CSPI letter which interests me strictly from a journalism perspective. That is, 180+ credentialed professionals asked the BMJ to retract an article by a journalist. That made me curious to learn more.

Anyway, a number of the co-signers of the CSPI letter work at institutions that are subject to public records laws. So, as I often do in the course of reporting a story, I filed public records requests with those institutions (including your university) in search of any related records. Last week I received a November 25 reply letter fromCU, Denver Associate University Counsel Chris Puckett which included:

Robert Eckel has stated that he intends to remove his name from the November 5, 2015 letter to the British Medical Journal.

I'm curious to know why you chose to remove your name from the letter plus any other information you might wish to add. I'll publish your comments unedited and without comment. Also, I'd welcome copies of any correspondence you've sent (or plan to send) to CSPI and/or the BMJ in regards to your decision.

Thanks much for your time/consideration. The holidays slow everything down, of course, but if you can get back to me in the next couple of days, that would be greatly appreciated. If you need more time, please advise and I'll do my best to accommodate.

Cheers and best of the season -- Peter

Peter M. HeimlichAtlantaph: (208)474-7283website: http://medfraud.infoblog: http://the-sidebar.come-mail: [email protected]

From: Robert Eckel <[email protected]>To: Peter Heimlich <[email protected]>Subject: RE: blogger inquiryDate: Sunday, November 29, 2015

Peter:When I’m told that there are criminal actions if I don’t reply by as certain date on something like this I’m out of here.

Dr. Eckel

http://cspinet.org/bmj-retraction-letter.html

mailto:[email protected]





http://the-sidebar.com/

http://medfraud.info/

http://www.the-sidebar.com/2015/11/what-katz-hears-after-being-busted-for.html

http://www.the-sidebar.com/2015/11/what-katz-hears-after-being-busted-for.html

Subject: Re: blogger inquiryTo: Robert Eckel <[email protected]>From: Peter Heimlich <[email protected]>Date: Sunday, November 29, 2015

Robert,

Honestly, I haven't a clue what you mean. What "criminal actions" are you referring to?

Cordially, Peter

From: Robert Eckel <[email protected]>To: Peter Heimlich <[email protected]>Subject: Re: blogger inquiryDate: Sunday, November 29, 2015

I was out of town and that's what the University legal office voice mail message indicated if I didn't respond by a certain date. When I finally reached them my decision was to withdraw my name.


Robert,

This is the first I've heard about this. All I know is that I filed a records request on November 11 and I received the attached November 25 letter from Chris Puckett. So I'm still fuzzy and trying to comprehend the situation.

My understanding is that the University legal office informed you you'd be liable for some sort of "criminal actions" if you didn't respond by a certain date about some matter. That resulted in you choosing to withdraw your name from the CSPI letter. Is that correct? If so, what matter were you supposed to respond to? Does it haveanything to do with my records request or is it something else?

My objective is to accurately report the information and to accurately represent you. Any help you can provide in that regard is sincerely appreciated.

And if you have any questions for me, fire away -- Peter

Click here for Chris Puckett's letter – PMH


Exactly as you have stated Peter.

https://www.scribd.com/doc/291660704/University-of-Colorado-11-25-15-Dr-Robert-Eckel-has-stated-that-he-intends-to-remove-his-name-from-the-November-5-2015-CSPI-letter-to-the-Bri










Thanks, Robert -- just one more question and I promise I'll get out of your hair!

My understanding is that the "criminal actions" had to do with the processing of my records request. Is that correct?

Good night and big thanks for your help -- Peter


No, in my failure to respond I guess by a certain date. It wasn't clear


You mean failure to respond by a certain date re: my records request?


Yes


Thanks.











my 11/29/15 correspondence with university of colorado professor robert eckel md re: his decision to...

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