JAMA Special Communication On Professional Association Relationships With Industry

If you work in a professional society you need to read the special communication released by the JAMA with policy recommendations for relationships with industry. The recommendations cover general budget support, conferences and meetings, funds for research fellowships, and training programs, committees that formulate guidelines or outcomes measures, industry support of publications, product endorsements, affiliated foundations, conflict if interest among society elected officers and board members, and guidelines for members.

I am not sure where the AMA stands in these recommendations or where this fits in the deliberations of CEJA. We will have to wait to find out.

Their conclusions – “Enacting these recommendations will require PMAs to transform their mode of operation and perhaps even give up activities of considerable value.The proposals are rigorous: PMAs should work toward a goal of $0 contributions from industry; they should not collaborate in or profit from industry marketing activities; PMA leaders and executive staff should be free of conflict of interest and, in time, so should the entirety of the board and the members of the practice guideline committees.”

This is a very sweeping set of recommendations that require special attention by those of us working in professional medical associations. A must read. My suggestion? Make a list of all of the recommendations. Have the leadership of your society examine each recommendation carefully and, using facts, determine what, if any impact each recommendation will have on your society. Then respond to JAMA accordingly.