U.S. Psychiatrists Agree to Stop Accepting Drug Company Freebies; Reducing Conflicts of Interest Behind the Move

The American Psychiatric Association will stop accepting medical education seminars sponsored by drug companies and other freebies at its annual meetings in an effort to reduce financial conflicts of interest.

The group, which represents 38,000 doctors across the United States, announced the new policy for its members at its annual meeting this week. Perks including free vacations, tickets to shows and sporting events, and glitzy seminars promoting new drugs offered by pharmaceutical companies have been blamed for promoting an all-too-cozy relationship between drug companies and doctors. In some cases, physicians have authored fraudulent studies or given speeches promoting a drug or prescribed one drug over another due to these perks provided by drug companies.

Several prominent psychiatrists, including Harvard University psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Biederman, were recently accused of failing to disclose thousands of dollars they received from the pharmaceutical industry.

Drug Industry Junkets Ended

Drug companies commonly host groups of physicians at events designed to promote new drugs, medical devices, or treatment techniques the companies sponsor. The meetings are often held in ritzy hotels, beachfront resorts, or other locations and include complimentary meals, rounds of golf, and other free incentives.

Officials with the largest body of psychiatrists apparently agreed at least in part with some critics, who have said the so-called educational seminars put on by drug companies can cross the line into advertising of company products and can give patients the wrong impression about the neutrality of their doctors.

“There is a perception that accepting meals provided by pharmaceutical companies may have a subtle influence on doctors’ prescribing habits,” said Dr. James Scully, APA’s medical director and chief executive officer. “While industry-funded meals used to be normal operating procedure at medical meetings, a sea change is currently underway in how we manage industry relationships. What was acceptable five years ago isn’t necessarily acceptable today.”

Other Freebies Also Curtailed

The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, a Washington, D.C.-based drug industry group, recently issued guidelines for the circulation of pens, note pads, and other items carrying drug company names or logos. Such items are commonly seen in doctor’s offices, but can cause patients to question their doctor’s motivation or advice.

Doctors who accept the small drug company gifts may also feel obligated to push the drug company’s products, even when other drugs are a better fit for a patient. The group’s guidelines already had banned accepting more costly gifts, like trips to resorts.

A Step in the Right Direction

We have frequently called for more transparency and fewer backroom dealings between drug companies and physicians. Too often, the best interests of patients who implicitly trust their doctors are acting ethically and professionally are shoved aside in the name of the almighty dollar. Many drug company seminars billed as educational seminars are nothing more than glitzy, over-produced pep rallies for new company products designed to woo physicians into prescribing the drugs to patients.

The APA should be commended for formally ending the practice of accepting such perks from drug companies, but more must be done by other industry groups to stop the undue influence of the pharmaceutical industry over the medical community.

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