Industry gifts to physicians: Less is more

Organized medicine issues a timely reminder on the ethical problems raised by physicians who accept gifts from drug and other companies.

Editorial. Oct. 22/29, 2001.

Return on investment is the standard by which everything in the business world is judged. The free stuff that companies of every stripe dole out is no exception.

So billions are spent every year on meals, tickets and trinkets in the pursuit of increasing sales. Unfortunately, the medical field is included, even though it shouldn't be.

Industry gifts carry a clear potential to raise a conflict with the standard that's supposed to apply in medicine, of what's in the best interest of the patient. Even simply the appearance of impropriety undermines the trust patients have in their doctors. There is a clear need in medicine for boundaries on what gifts can be offered or accepted.

That message is at the core of a major new initiative lead by the AMA, in partnership with other medical organizations, and focused on industry gifts to physicians. Its goal over the next year and a half is to educate doctors -- as well as representatives of drug, device and equipment makers -- about what's acceptable and what is not when it comes to gifts to doctors.

It is a timely message. Interest in this issue last peaked about a decade ago, but abuses have since crept back into the system. Some of the more blatant ones are "dine-and-dash events" (take-out dinners for the entire family, or books, and even Christmas trees, offered in exchange for a few minutes of a doctor's time), over-the-top meals and entertainment, and questionable honorariums and travel expenses. [...]