Gifts to physicians from the pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing industry: what every physician should know.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) has been at the cornerstone of life-long learning for physicians for almost four decades. Constraints on physician services and reimbursement during the same period of time have increased the physicians' and CME providers' dependency on financial support from the medical industrial complex for CME activities. In a related arena, the competitive nature of the medical industrial complex has resulted in a frenzy of "enticements," amenities, or gifts for physicians. The busy practitioner is vulnerable to many unethical practices currently being reported and identified by the public, often unjustly presenting a tarnished image of the entire medical profession. The Louisiana State Medical Society Continuing Medical Education Accreditation Committee (LSMS CMEAC) recommended a review article on the current practices, attitudes, and guidelines relating to gifts to physicians from industry and industry's appropriate financial support for CME activities. Dr. Roger Zoorob, a member of the LSMS CMEAC, along with Michele Larzelere, PhD, responded to the committee's request. The LSMS CMEAC is grateful for their contribution. (LSUS CMEAC Chair: Albert Barrocas, MD, Chair of the CMEAC. LSMS CMEAC members and staff: Donnie Batie, MD; William Daly, Jr., MD; Barbara L. Deming, MD; Ricky Hendrix, MD; Benedict E. Idowu, DO; Harold L. Ishler, Jr., MD; Russell C. Klein, MD; Sharda Kumar, MD; Elma I. LeDoux, MD; I. Ricardo Martinez, MD, PhD; Pamela A. Parra, MD, Vice-Chair; William G. Rhea, Jr., MD; Rajasekharan Warrier, MD; Roger Zoorob, MD; Jeanette Harmon, MBA, Director of Administration; and JoAnna Cline, Medical Education Coordinator.)
Zoorob
Roger
R
Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, New Orleans, USA.
Larzelere
Michele
M
D000574:American Medical Association; D001294:Attitude to Health; D016265:Conflict of Interest; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000941:ethics*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000191:economics*; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000941:ethics*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D037921:Gift Giving / Q000941:ethics*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D014481:United States