AMA aims lie detector at tobacco testimony

Association system will not review testimony in other medical-related cases.

By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. July 7, 2003.

Chicago -- The American Medical Association now has a mechanism to help uncover physicians who may have made false statements when testifying about tobacco.

The Association will investigate complaints, determine if the information is false and give the information to other entities that have the power to take action against the doctor.

Here's how it will work:

• Complaints first go to the AMA's Office of the General Counsel and the AMA's unit on Science and Community Health Advocacy.
• If those groups believe the testimony was not honest and truthful, the physician who gave the testimony is notified so he or she can respond.
• The AMA staff can get additional input from appropriate state, county or specialty medical organizations or appropriate scientists or experts.
• All of the information then goes to the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs. The council has the right to reject the physician's membership application, expel an existing member, accept a membership application with probation terms attached, put a member on probation, suspend a member, or admonish, reprimand or censure an applicant or existing member.
• If CEJA decides not to review the complaint, the Board of Trustees can take it up and decide whether to notify the appropriate licensing boards about the complaint.