Medical associations should refuse general budgetary support from the health care industry, according to an article by a group of leading doctors and researchers published on Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Wall Street Journal reports. Authors of the article included past presidents of American College of Cardiology, American Psychiatric Association, the American College of Physicians and the current editor-in-chief of JAMA.
According to the Journal, associations such as ACC and APA are important sources of practice guidelines and continuing education for doctors, and medical professionals often depend on their publications and conferences to stay up-to-date with the medical community. However, money from health care firms makes up part of these groups' budgets and funds conferences and physician fellowships.
The JAMA article, which was funded by Pew Charitable Trusts, included non-binding recommendations that would allow the associations to continue to accept industry advertisements in medical journals and money for industry-sponsored booths at their conferences. David Rothman, a professor at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, said, "You can read the ads, skip the ads, but there's nothing hidden," but "I don't like it when I can't tell if what I'm hearing is science, or marketing in the guise of science" (Goldstein/Winslow, Wall Street Journal, 4/1).
Cleveland Clinic chief of cardiology Steve Nissen said, "We've taken a bold step here," adding, "when you have professional medical societies writing guidelines for the medicines doctors prescribe, there shouldn't even be the appearance of influence." ACC President Jack Lewin said, "Even the appearance that we're in collusion with industry might erode the confidence of patients and the public" (Sternberg, USA Today, 4/1). APA CEO James Scully, one of the article's co-authors, said public perception was a factor in his group's decision to phase out industry-funded symposia at its conferences.
Marjorie Powers, senior assistant general counsel for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said, "Physicians are making decisions based on their scientific and medical knowledge and their training. It's important to recognize that they have their own sense of integrity" (Wall Street Journal, 4/1).
An abstract of the article is available online.
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