News in brief - Oct. 17, 2005

D.C. doctors say they're feeling effects of liability crisis - Congress seeks disclosure of conflicts

D.C. doctors say they're feeling effects of liability crisis

Nearly one-third of 201 Washington, D.C., physicians who responded to a poll by the Medical Society of the District of Columbia reported they have already retired or plan to retire early. Nearly 80% of respondents said they know colleagues who have retired or are planning to retire early.

Increasing costs for liability insurance are adversely affecting patients as well, the survey showed. About 80% of respondents said access to care is decreasing or will decrease soon; 78% said costs of care are rising or will rise soon; and 84% said pressure to practice defensive medicine is increasing.

Congress seeks disclosure of conflicts

An amendment added to a congressional appropriations bill would require the Food and Drug Administration to notify the public 15 days before appointing a scientist with a potential conflict of interest to one of its advisory panels that review new drugs and devices.

The FDA now is allowed to hire scientists who have a previous or ongoing financial tie to the manufacturer of a drug or device when the benefits of their expertise outweigh the potential conflicts, but only if it first seeks a waiver. But critics have complained that the FDA did not properly disclose these conflicts.

Congress must pass the bill and President Bush would need to sign it in order for the proposed change to take place. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group, applauded the proposed amendment to the appropriation bill, but said Congress should go further and ban conflicts at the FDA altogether.