Last week's Maclean's article Doctors, conflict of interest and evidence med schools are ignoring the problem looks at the first study of its kind that analyzes conflict of interest policies at medical schools across Canada. As the article states, it was found that policies are weak - they allow communication with pharmaceutical sales representatives, faculty members to have relationships with speakers' bureaus, and there aren't guidelines around drug samples. Additionally, it was found that doctors were not receiving any sort of education regarding conflict of interest.
Patients' Association intern, Adrienne Shnier, was lead author of the study. She recommends that curriculum be put in place to give doctors the tools to know how to be mindful of, and deal with these conflicts.
Doctors' mindfulness toward conflict of interest with phamaceutical companies has major implications for patients. Without unbiased prescribing, we may not be getting the full picture of potential side effects.
Read the full study here.