Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16414

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

Mitchell PB
Winds of change: growing demands for transparency in the relationship between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry.
MJA 2009 Sep 07; 191:(5):273-275
http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/191_05_070909/

Abstract:

The relationship between medicine and the pharmaceutical
industry in the United States is undergoing rapid and momentous
change; US Senator Grassley has alleged inadequate disclosure of
earnings from industry and lack of acknowledgement of conflicts of
interest by leading academics.

This article is based on the premise that it is not the
relationship per se that is the problem, but rather how that
relationship is enacted.

The influential 2008 report of the Association of American
Medical Colleges (AAMC) has provided detailed recommendations on
appropriate interactions between academic physicians and industry (eg,
proscribing receipt of gifts including travel support, and proscribing
speaking at industry-sponsored educational programs). Contrary to
expectations, there has been widespread acceptance of such guidelines.

In Australia, details of all industry-sponsored educational
events are now listed on the Medicines Australia website.

Australian doctors have no alternative but to drastically
improve the transparency of their interactions with industry, both in
terms of the remuneration received and disclosure of potential
conflicts of interest.

Australian universities should seriously consider developing
recommendations similar to those of the AAMC.