Academic Medical Centers and Conflicts of Interest
- Marvin E. Gozum, MD
-
gozum@computer.org
Department of Internal Medicine
Jefferson Medical College
Philadelphia, Pa
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
- KEYWORDS:
- ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTERS
- CONFLICT OF INTEREST
- DISCLOSURE
- NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (US)
- TRAINING SUPPORT
To the Editor: For at least a decade, many of the problems and solutions discussed by Dr Brennan and colleagues1 have been a recurring theme in the medical literature.2 It is appropriate to consider the equally vital issue of pharmaceutical advertising directed toward physicians. Although there is a difference in the manner in which advertising influences a target market vs perks focused on targeted individuals, the overall goal is the same: to influence judgment beyond objectivity.3
Academic medical centers have influence only within their campuses. Professional medical societies and journals, however, are able to reach a substantially larger audience. Medical leaders addressing pharmaceutical advertising to physicians would help modify a public perception of a sanctimonious medical profession in which the hand of academia preaches, while the other hand of the profession does otherwise.
Financial Disclosures: None reported.
