Healthcare Industry Relationships
Remember, while the healthcare industry generally makes its approaches to doctors, healthcare facilities or professional organisations, the ultimate beneficiary of the approach must be the patient.
Professional and ethical issues may arise from physician involvement with healthcare injury. General principles include:
- Formal and open declaration of any industry support
- Industry associations with CICM do not imply endorsement, and require regular disclaimers
- Patient benefit should be the basis of any association
- Any arrangements or negotiations in a personal capacity cannot reference CICM
Meetings
College-Organised, Industry-Sponsored
- Must be under the control of a college organising committee
- The committee may include industry representation
- Industry support must be fully declared, and endorsement disclaimers used
- Any profit must be devoted to dedication or research
- Normal college meeting guidelines apply
Industry-Organised
- Should not have any CICM affiliation
- CICM representatives will not be present; members of CICM will be there in a personal capacity
- Member attendance should be in accordance with general principles
Research
- Accepted that healthcare industry is a major research sponsor
- Written contract required between all parties
- Must include a neutral third party
e.g. University, hospital, research foundation. - Contract subject to rules of third party
- Must include a neutral third party
- Normal ethics committee procedures must be followed
Other
- Industry-sponsored prizes awarded to fellows or trainees must be awarded entirely by an independent committee
- Industry-funded employment must be paid through a neutral third party
- Funding to facilitate educational attendance or talks should:
- Be acknowledged
- Considered based on the professional benefit of involvement
- Any talks given should be presented in an unbiased manner