Honoraria Controversy – Ties that Bind

Posted on December 13, 2007 by Dr. David Edward Marcinko MBA MEd CMP™

Pharmaceutical / Medical Device Industry Bedfellows

By Staff Writers   

The Journal of the American Medical Association recently reported that nearly two-thirds of academic leaders surveyed at 125 US medical schools and the nation’s 15 largest teaching hospitals have financial ties to the medical industry. 

Serving as paid consultants or thought leaders – accepting industry money for free meals, honoraria and drinks were among the most common practices reported by the heads of academic departments.

Moreover, researchers said drug companies and makers of medical devices often use these connections to influence doctors to use products that aren’t necessarily in the patient’s best interest.

Overall, 60 percent of department heads reported some type of personal financial relationship with the industry, while 27 percent said they had recently served as a paid consultant.

The same percentage reported serving on a company scientific advisory board, and 21 percent who headed departments of medical specialties closely related to patient care said they had served on speakers’ bureaus for industry.

And so, is this ethical or acceptable to you; or just standard industry practice?

 

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One Response

  1. Feguson, on September 7, 2011 at 10:55 PM said:

    Dollars for Doctors
    [How Industry Money Reaches Physicians]

    Piercing the Veil, More Drug Companies Reveal Payments to Doctors

    http://www.propublica.org/article/piercing-the-veil-more-drug-companies-reveal-payments-to-doctors

    Feguson

    Like

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