Prominent child psychiatrist suspends relationship with drug makers

Dr. Joseph Biederman, a prominent child psychiatrist whose relationship with drug makers is under scrutiny, will temporarily suspend his ties to the pharmaceutical industry under an agreement reached with his employer, Massachusetts General Hospital. A hospital spokeswoman said that Biederman, who specializes in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder, has withdrawn from running several industry-funded clinical trials, and that another physician will assume oversight of the research.