June 2009 Archives

June 15, 2009 -- Today the American Medical Association House of Delegates rejected sweeping ethical guidelines against industry collaboration. The guidelines would have suppressed many education and marketing relationships with practicing doctors and medical researchers.

To view an excellent account of the June 14th AMA proceedings from Tom Sullivan...click here.

For more background information, see the Coalition page here.

 To discuss, visit the Coalition's LinkedIn Group.

As the controversy around the commercial support of CME continues, ACCME is considering significant policy changes that could dramatically change industry support of both certified and promotional education programs. For example, one recent proposal would prohibit faculty thought leaders from participating in both CME and promotional programs.  View responses.

For more information contact:

Brad Bednarz bbednarz@visiblep.com

Marty Cearnal mcearnal@jobson.com

Mark Schaffer mark.schaffer@ppscme.com

The public debate on these issues has reached a critical juncture and your participation can help shape the debate. Help support our industry by insuring that our Nation's clinicians and patients are empowered with the latest developments in medical information.

Thank you

John Kamp

Executive Director

Coalition for Healthcare Communication

On Tuesday, April 28, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) made public its sweeping recommendations on "Conflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education and Practice."

While the tone of the IOM press material and draft report suggests a rather modest call for change in the relationships among the industry, organized medicine and prescribers, the press statements of the participants and a careful reading of the report (over 350 pages) illuminate an intent by the Committee to aggressively limit the role of the industry in organized medicine and policy making.

AMA's CEJA Report Revised Before June 14th AMA Meeting
Coalition Encourages Discussion and Comments

In response to feedback on its original report, the AMA's Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs (CEJA) on June 9th recommended important revisions to its report, "Financial Relationships with Industry in Continuing Medical Education" to be considered for submission to the AMA House of Delegates on June 14th.

The CEJA recommendation and specific, more recent feedback acted upon by the CEJA are available here:

CEJA Recommendation:
CEJA_Recommendation_Jun09.pdf

Analysis and Recommendation by John Kamp on behalf of the Coalition:
CEJA_Recomendations_Kamp_Jun8_09.pdf

Recommendation by the Council on Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS)
CMSS_Response_CEJA_Jun09.pdf

Recommendation by The Alliance for Continuing Medical Education
Alliance_Response_CEJA_Jun09.pdf

If you would like to discuss these important CME issues, please visit the Coalition's LinkedIn Group: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=1981721

The Coalition and others will also be producing comments, and they will be announced on our LinkedIn Group

For more information please contact:

Brad Bednarz bbednarz@visiblep.com
Marty Cearnal mcearnal@jobson.com
Mark Schaffer mark.schaffer@ppscme.com
John Kamp jkamp@cohealthcom.org