Healthy Skepticism Library item: 29

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

Coyle SL.
Physician-industry relations. Part 2: organizational issues
Ann Intern Med 2002; 136:403-406
http://www.annals.org/cgi/reprint/136/5/403.pdf

Abstract:

This is part 2 of a 2-part paper on ethics and physician-industry relationsips. Part 1 offers advice to individual physicians; part 2 gives recommendations to medical education providers and medical professional societies. Industry often sponsors programs for graduate and continuing medical education, as well as major events of medical professional societies. Industry is an abundant source of advances in medicine and technology and plays a crucial role in disseminating up-to-date medical information. Although industry information fills an important need, studies suggest that it is often biased. Providers of graduate and continuing medical education have a duty to present objective and balanced information to their participants; thus, they should not accept any funds that are contingent on a sponsor’s ability to shape programming. Medical educators need to evaluate and control the planning, content, and delivery of education provided under their
auspices. They should disclose industry sponsorship to students, faculty, and continuing medical education participants and should adopt explicit organizational policies about acceptable and unacceptable interactions with industry. Medical professional societies have a duty to promote the independent judgment and professionalism of their members. Organizers of industry-sponsored meetings should clearly separate product promotion from impartial medical education. Adopting specific policies for dealing with industry sponsorship can also help professional societies guard against outside influence. The American College of Physicians–American Society of Internal Medicine’s core ethical principles for external funding and relationships serve as
an example.

Keywords:
*policy statement & guideline United States American College of Physicians relationship between medical profession and industry regulation of promotion doctors CME continuing medical education ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: LINKS BETWEEN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND INDUSTRY REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Notes:

ProCite field⁵: Policy statement & guideline
ProCite field³⁸: www.annals.org/issues/v136n5/pdf/200203050-00015.pdf