Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15348

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Schachter SC, Mandell W, Harshbarger S, Grometstein R.
Managing Relationships with Industry: A Physician's Compliance Manual
The New England Journal of Medicine 2009 Mar 26; 360:(13):1366-1367
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/short/360/13/1366

Abstract:

The core assumption of Managing Relationships with Industry is that “with very few exceptions, physicians are ethical, patient-centered professionals.” Hence, the authors – three lawyers and one physician – aim to guide physicians who wish to avoid being embarrassed, disciplined, fined, or indicted because of their relationships with industry. Anyone who still believes that honesty can be established by declaring that a gift or payment, no matter how small, did not influence a decision had better consult this manual.

Although the authors invoke ethical principles, they are most intent on keeping physicians within legal boundaries. They most frequently discuss gifts, . . .