The editor of the venerable Journal of The American Medical Association was fired Friday for publishing a report that characterizes popular views on oral sex and dovetails with the Clinton impeachment trial.

Dr. George C. Lundberg, a gruff pathologist who rarely minces words - and who as an editor never minded taking doctors to task - was dismissed for what his bosses say was poor editorial judgment.

"I happen to believe that Dr. Lundberg was focused on sensationalism here and not science," said Dr. E. Ratcliffe Anderson, executive vice president of the American Medical Association, who informed Lundberg of his firing in a Friday morning call.