Gifts can compromise AAOS’s Principles in Medical Ethics of Professionalism in Orthopedics by undermining the physician’s integrity and challenging his or her honesty regarding the use of the knowledge or equipment being highlighted at a company-sponsored “educational” course. Gifts also can produce a conflict of interest in deciding the most appropriate care to be provided to the patient.
At the center of the ethical concern is that the orthopedic profession exists for the primary purpose of caring for the patient and thus the patient’s well-being is central to all orthopedic ethical decisions.
The AAOS opinion on gifts and the orthopedic surgeon’s relationship with industry states: “Generally, the Academy believes it is acceptable for industry to provide financial and other support to orthopedic surgeons if such support has significant educational value and has the purpose of improving patient care. All dealings between orthopedic surgeons and industry should benefit the patient and be able to withstand public scrutiny.”
Gifts should benefit patients
The academy’s guidelines emphasize that any gift or other financial support accepted by an orthopedic surgeon should include a benefit for his or her patient. Under no circumstances should an orthopedic surgeon accept gifts with conditions attached.
image For instance, it would be unethical to attend an educational meeting in which there was an understood or implied requirement that products highlighted at the course must be utilized by the attendees. Social functions may also take on the appearance of a gift if there is no educational value attached to the event — such as a sporting event, evening at the theatre, golf outing or gourmet dinner. The absolute ethical “no-no” is acceptance of monetary gifts.
In review, there are basically two times when gifts from industry are ethically permissible. One is for subsidies to underwrite the cost of educational events. CME credits must be awarded at these events, and the purpose of the event must be to improve practitioner knowledge, thus improving patient care. Furthermore, support for the educational opportunity must be acknowledged, and the content of the educational experience and the desired attendees should be determined by the sponsoring organization and not by the industry providing the subsidy.
The other occasion when a gift from industry is appropriate is in relationship to expenses and honoraria for faculty. Providing an educational experience to an industry-sponsored conference is ethically sound as long as the sponsoring organization controls the content and attendance.
The orthopedic surgeon must remember that the welfare of the patient is paramount in any ethical dilemma. Surgeons should diligently avoid industry incentives intended to influence treatment choices or use of devices or diagnostic approaches that are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
The ORTHOSuperSite is intended for physician use and all comments will be posted at the discretion of the editors. We reserve the right not to post any comments with unsolicited information about medical devices or other products. At no time will the ORTHOSuperSite be used for medical advice to patients.
At the center of the ethical concern is that the orthopedic profession exists for the primary purpose of caring for the patient and thus the patient’s well-being is central to all orthopedic ethical decisions.
The AAOS opinion on gifts and the orthopedic surgeon’s relationship with industry states: “Generally, the Academy believes it is acceptable for industry to provide financial and other support to orthopedic surgeons if such support has significant educational value and has the purpose of improving patient care. All dealings between orthopedic surgeons and industry should benefit the patient and be able to withstand public scrutiny.”
Gifts should benefit patients
The academy’s guidelines emphasize that any gift or other financial support accepted by an orthopedic surgeon should include a benefit for his or her patient. Under no circumstances should an orthopedic surgeon accept gifts with conditions attached.
image For instance, it would be unethical to attend an educational meeting in which there was an understood or implied requirement that products highlighted at the course must be utilized by the attendees. Social functions may also take on the appearance of a gift if there is no educational value attached to the event — such as a sporting event, evening at the theatre, golf outing or gourmet dinner. The absolute ethical “no-no” is acceptance of monetary gifts.
In review, there are basically two times when gifts from industry are ethically permissible. One is for subsidies to underwrite the cost of educational events. CME credits must be awarded at these events, and the purpose of the event must be to improve practitioner knowledge, thus improving patient care. Furthermore, support for the educational opportunity must be acknowledged, and the content of the educational experience and the desired attendees should be determined by the sponsoring organization and not by the industry providing the subsidy.
The other occasion when a gift from industry is appropriate is in relationship to expenses and honoraria for faculty. Providing an educational experience to an industry-sponsored conference is ethically sound as long as the sponsoring organization controls the content and attendance.
The orthopedic surgeon must remember that the welfare of the patient is paramount in any ethical dilemma. Surgeons should diligently avoid industry incentives intended to influence treatment choices or use of devices or diagnostic approaches that are contrary to the best interests of the patient.
The ORTHOSuperSite is intended for physician use and all comments will be posted at the discretion of the editors. We reserve the right not to post any comments with unsolicited information about medical devices or other products. At no time will the ORTHOSuperSite be used for medical advice to patients.
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ReplyDeleteIn order to build stronger relationships and improve the goodwill of the company, business firms have started to give corporate gifts to their employees. Every company is different from another and it is these differing traits that help them decide what kind of corporate gifts they can bestow upon their clients and employees. learn
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