Friday, August 20, 2010

Separate Doctors from Industry

UMass Memorial Chief Medical Officer Stephen Tosi and I argue, in this Boston Globe Op Ed, that it is now time for all teaching hospitals and medical schools to place more appropriate restrictions on the relationships between physicians and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.  We cite UMass Memorial's positive experience as a reason why these organizations have nothing to fear by doing so. 

Perhaps some might take note.  The Atlantic Wire, (which "focuses on the columnists and commentators leading the national dialogue") listed the piece as one of its 5 Best Monday columns.  See the others here

3 comments:

  1. As an attorney representing the medical device industry for many years I applaud UMass Memorial and Harvard's restrictions. The industry has been demonized for offering incentives over the years, but there has been no shortage of recipients either. When the playing field becomes level, the company with the best product for the best price wins.

    But "end-runs" are still happening. I would be interested in your thoughts on the tight relationships between certain companies and professional organizations? CME training in beach resorts or ski areas underwritten by research grants to the training organizations. For example, see Dr. Roy Poses post
    http://hcrenewal.blogspot.com/2009/12/person-no-7-also-known-as-83rd-richest.html

    regarding a company called Synthes and its funding of research to the AO Foundation, an organization that provides fellowship and CME courses.

    Similarly, see this article by Dr. Ford Vox appearing in The Atlantic entitled the Medical-Industrial Complex regarding other third party organizations:
    http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2010/06/the-medical-industrial-complex/58888/

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  2. The industry has been demonized for offering incentives over the years, but there has been no shortage of recipients either.

    ReplyDelete
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