Voluntary Ethics Code Set for Medical Organizations

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Voluntary Ethics Code Set for Medical Organizations

Thirteen of 32 member societies have already adopted guidelines, group says.

HealthDay/ScoutNews LLC

WEDNESDAY, April 21 (HealthDay News) -- A new voluntary ethics code for how

medical organizations should interact with private companies was released

Wednesday by the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS).

" Physicians and patients count on medical societies to be authoritative,

independent voices in science and medicine, " Dr. Lichter, CEO of the

American Society of Clinical Oncology and chair of the CMSS Task Force on

Professionalism and Conflict of Interest that developed the code, said in a news

release.

" By adopting this code, [medical] societies demonstrate their commitment to the

highest level of ethical standards in their activities and to providing the best

possible care for patients and populations, " Lichter said.

The code calls for disclosure of conflict of interest by those who take part in

society activities such as medical meetings, clinical practice guidelines and

medical journals. It also calls for disclosure of donations and support received

from private companies and disclosure of society board members' financial and

other relationships with companies.

Societies should develop educational programs, advocacy positions, and research

grants independently of private companies. Medical society leaders (such as

presidents, CEOs and editors-in-chief of society journals) should have no direct

financial relationships with relevant health-care companies.

" The private sector plays a central role in developing new treatments and

medical advances, and medical societies collaborate with industry in many ways

that benefit medical practice. We developed this code to ensure that those

relationships are appropriate, and to ensure public confidence in our

objectivity and commitment to high-quality care, " Dr. Norman Kahn, executive

vice president and CEO of CMSS, said in the news release.

The CMSS includes 32 leading medical societies with a collective membership of

more than 650,000 physicians. So far, 13 member societies have formally adopted

the new code, while others plan to adopt it over the coming months. Some member

societies already have policies in place that meet or exceed some of the

principles in the new code of ethics, according to the CMSS.

SOURCE: Council of Medical Specialty Societies, news release, April 21, 2010

http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/healthday/638341.html

Medical Groups Sign on to Tough Ethics Rules

By Hobson

Head honchos at medical societies and top editors at their associated journals

will have to sever direct financial ties with industry as part of new ethics

rules rolled out today. Here's how the Associated Press describes the changes.

The Council of Medical Specialty Societies says the new code – which covers

conflicts of interest, financial disclosure, independent program development and

independent leadership – has already been adopted by 13 of its 32 member

societies. Among the early signers-on: the American Society of Clinical

Oncology, American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology, and

American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists.

The provision affecting leadership of the group and industry ties says " key

society leaders " , defined as the presidential line of succession, CEO of a

group's membership organization and editor-in-chief of any associated journals

can't have " direct financial relationships " with companies during their terms.

Societies can set a " reasonable period " after election or appointment to cut

ties, and anyone elected or appointed before his or her group signs the code can

keep ties, but must disclose them. Leaders can still provide uncompensated

services to companies, accept " reasonable " travel reimbursements related to

those services, and accept research support as long as it's paid to an

institution or practice.

Jeanne Sheehy, executive director of CMSS, writes in an email that the new rules

weren't specifically modeled on one society's code. Some groups already have

codes that are as tough or tougher as this one. Any votes for which group has

the strictest regulations?

http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/04/21/medical-groups-sign-on-to-tough-ethics-ru\

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