Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15154

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Publication type: news

Wisconsin Physicians Considers Stricter Pharma Gift Giving Rules
Wisconsin State Journal 2009 Feb 26
http://www.madison.com/wsj/

Full text:

Feb. 26—Doctors would have to disclose the total amounts they get paid by drug companies or makers of medical devices and stop giving talks sponsored by industry under recommendations before the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s physician group.

The recommendations, released Thursday, come as national attention to potential conflicts of interest among doctors has grown in recent years.

A letter to the university last month from a U.S. senator investigating such conflicts highlighted the issue. The letter from Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, noted that Dr. Thomas Zdeblick, a UW Hospital orthopedic surgeon, received $19 million from a medical device company over five years while complying with campus procedures by saying only that he got more than $120,000.

Under the new recommendations, Zdeblick and other physicians would have to report the total amounts on disclosure forms, which patients can request. Current policies require doctors to say only whether the pay from each company exceeds $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000.

In another change, doctors would be banned from speaking, writing or teaching activities sponsored by drug or device companies.

Also, doctors would have to tell patients who are considering a procedure that involves a medical device if the doctors receive royalties from sales of the device. Doctors would continue to be unable to collect royalties from the use of such devices on UW Health patients.

Most of Zdeblick’s money was for royalties on devices he invented. He said last month that he gives patients a form that says generically that he does consulting work and product design.

Dr. Jeff Grossman, head of the UW Medical Foundation, the university’s doctor group, said the organization plans to approve the recommendations by May, possibly with some changes, with most policies in place by September.

“There is a welcome increase in attention across the country to the sanctity of the physician-patient relationship,” Grossman said. “That relationship should never be even perceived as violating any conflict of interest.”

The recommendations also would apply to nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants and other health-care providers who work at facilities operated by UW Health. They also will be considered by the rest of the UW-Madison campus, Grossman said.

Some of the proposals would codify existing policies for doctors, such as a ban on personal gifts, including food and travel, and on the use of drug samples from pharmaceutical companies.