Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18174

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

Fava GA
Unmasking Special Interest Groups: The Key to Addressing Conflicts of Interest in Medicine
Psychother Psychosom 2010 Apr 29; 79:203–207
http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Doi=313688

Abstract:

The recent proposal of controlling conflicts of interest
in professional medical associations (PMAs) in the United
States apparently represents a bold shift from current
policies [1] . It stems from the recognition of the limitations
of disclosure as the sole method for dealing with the
issue. PMAs are now expected to give up all pharmaceutical
and medical device industry funding of general budgets
– except for income from journal advertising and
exhibition hall fees – and can accept only truly unrestricted
funds for educational and research purposes.
PMA officers (including members of the practice guideline
committees) should be completely free from financial
conflicts of interest and PMAs should no longer collaborate
in or profit from industry marketing activities
[1] . Commercial booths are still allowed at scientific
meetings; however, the proposal states that ‘these booths
should not be in the obligate path to a scientific or educational
session, and must be clearly delineated so that attendees
understand that they are entering a marketing
site, and are free to do so or not to do so as they choose’
[ 1 , p. 1369]. Similar restrictions are increasingly reported
in public and private policies [2] .
‘Not too much zeal’ warned the 19th century French
diplomat Charles Talleyrand, and his recommendations