title: Ethical concerns of congresses and joint winter meetings of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery.
abstract: The pharmaceutical industry contributes to the development of new drugs, provides funding for research and collaborates in continuing medical education. Although this relationship with medical practice is beneficial and desirable, commercial interests could potentially eclipse patient benefits and compromise professional integrity. Congresses and meetings of the Spanish Society of Pneumology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) agglutinate different spheres of knowledge, including aspects such as bioethics, management and communication, always centered on patient and their well-being. SEPAR congresses and meetings should provide sufficient economic benefits to be reinvested in research and other purposes which are reflected in SEPAR statutes in order to ensure the solvency, sustainability and economic independence of the Society. SEPAR has developed strict regulations governing the sponsorship and accreditation of training activities while striving for a balance between the interests of the industry and its own necessary independence, which results from the constant concern for maintaining good medical practice and complying with ethical aspects. This regulation is useful from an organizational and logistical standpoint, and it is necessary to prevent or resolve any possible conflicts of interest. Scientific societies should regulate common practices that could potentially result in conflicts of interest.
authors.affiliation: Secretario General de la Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR), España. echinervives@gmail.com
authors.forename: Eusebi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiner
authors.forename: Estrella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández-Fabrellas
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Lucas
mesh_terms: D016265:Conflict of Interest / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003226:Congresses as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000592:standards; D005381:Financing, Organized; D005582:Foundations / Q000191:economics; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D015272:Pulmonary Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013030:Spain; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration*