Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3615

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

Thompson WG.
The ethics of physician-pharmaceutical company relationships.
CMAJ 1988 Nov 1; 139:(9):835-6

Abstract:

Recently the author received an invitation to attend an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe to hear about a new drug that the company plans to introduce in Canada. This invitation prompted him to ask at what point does a physician’s acceptance of a drug company’s goodwill constitute a conflict of interest? The company undoubtably hopes that he will develop a warm feeling for the drug and prescribe it. Also, as an academic he might set the tone for acceptance of the drug by others. Finally, there is an implied obligation to reciprocate the company’s goodwill. Is he to repay the company by helping it market its drug? Data from industry-funded clinical trials is sometimes distorted and used in ways that are inappropriate. On-the-other hand, studies of the efficacy and safety of new drugs would be impossible without close cooperation between clinical investigators and the industry. It seems clear that academic physicians need to develop a set of guidelines to ensure that their relationships with the pharmaceutical industry is beyond reproach.

Keywords:
*analysis/Canada/conflict of interest/ relationship between researchers, academic institutions and industry/ guidelines, discussion of/ drug company sponsored research/ agency role/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: LINKS BETWEEN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND INDUSTRY/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PROFESSIONALISM/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: HEALTH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS/SPONSORSHIP: INDIVIDUALS Conflict of Interest* Drug Industry* Ethics, Medical* Humans Interprofessional Relations Physicians/ethics*