Can physicians accept lunches for their staff or meals at meetings sponsored by the health products industry?
The Wisconsin Medical Society’s policy creates a bright line on the issue of accepting gifts from those who provide health products prescribed by physicians. The prohibition against accepting any gifts, including meals and other gifts of food, eases the burden of compliance, prevents possible biased decision making and avoids patient mistrust. To comply with the Society’s policy, a physician who has previously allowed drug company representatives to provide food to the physician’s staff should instruct the drug company representatives to immediately discontinue the practice of providing any food or other items to the physician and/or his or her staff. When physicians attend meetings where free meals such as breakfasts, lunches or dinners are provided by members of the health products industry, physicians are encouraged to either refuse the meal or pay for the meal. When the physician writes a check for the cost of the meal, he or she might retain a copy of the cancelled check and make
Related Questions
- May UMass Memorial physicians or staff participate on an industry speakers bureau if they are comfortable with the objectivity of lecture content?
- Can physicians accept lunches for their staff or meals at meetings sponsored by the health products industry?
- Does ETH-004 discourage physicians from working collaboratively with the health products industry?
