Critical changes in continuing medical education: Gifts to physicians from industry
Last year the Office of Inspector General of the US Department of Health and Human Services published detailed regulations regarding the appropriate interactions between physicians and the pharmaceutical industry. Fortunately, the American Medical Association (AMA), through an ethics subcommittee, has developed a succinct opinion statement for physicians to use to determine appropriate gifts and continuing medical education sponsored by industry. This article clarifies the regulations, reviews the history behind the governmental rules, lists the seven guidelines published by the AMA, and directs physicians to additional information on this topic.
Chair, Continuing Medical Education Committee, American Society of Reproductive MedicineProfessor and Vice Chair of GynecologyDirector, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and InfertilityDepartment of Obstetrics and GynecologyUniversity of Vermont College of Medicine
Julia V. Johnson, M.D., Chair, Continuing Medical Education Committee, American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Professor and Vice Chair of Gynecology, Director, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Given Building, 89 Beaumont Ave, Burlington, VT 05405
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