Wall Street Journal Examines Physicians' Disclosure To Patients Of Business Ties

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry
Article Date: 21 Nov 2007 - 11:00 PDT

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The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday examined physicians' disclosure of business ties that might be considered conflicts of interest. According to the Journal, many "physicians don't volunteer information about financial relationships that might bear on treatment decisions." In addition, "patients often find the discussion of a doctor's financial connections to be awkward and one they are reluctant to initiate," the Journal reports. However, the situation is "slowly changing as more information becomes publicly available about payments doctors receive," according to the Journal.

Congress is considering legislation that would require companies to disclose all payments of more than $25 made to physicians. Minnesota and Vermont already have laws requiring drug companies to report payments to doctors. In addition, some doctor groups require their members to tell patients about financial connections. For example, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons beginning in January 2008 will require surgeon members to disclose to patients any financial arrangements with the industry that relate to patients' treatment. According to the Journal, "Patients often don't think of the ways in which these relationships may influence their treatment."

Patient advocate Trisha Torrey said patients should do their own research and get a second opinion if they are suspicious of a recommendation for treatment. David Blumenthal, a researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital, said physicians, hospitals and insurers should be responsible for informing patients of any financial stake they have in treatments (Armstrong, Wall Street Journal, 11/20).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. © 2005 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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