The AMA's Working Group for the Communication of Ethical Guidelines on Gifts to Physicians from Industry has created the following statement, intended to provide guidance regarding the appropriateness of gift-giving between industry and physicians:
"Physicians have a unique professional relationship with patients and have an ethical responsibility to place the health and welfare of the patient ahead of economic self-interest. Physicians should be mindful that accepting gifts or other remuneration that does not comply with ethical guidelines may give the appearance of undue influence and jeopardize the physician-patient relationship.
"Industry and physicians should recognize that gifts that do not comply with professional guidelines may compromise ethical principles. Industry should share the responsibility to promote the health and welfare of patients by complying with appropriate guidelines.
"Guidance for physicians and industry can be found in the current Code of Medical Ethics, published by the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs of the American Medical Association and the ethics statements of medical specialty societies. In addition, codes of conduct associated with government, industry, or other institutional employment may apply."
Content provided by: Gift to Physicians Work Group