Published 14 August 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a973
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a973

Analysis

Rethinking continuing medical education

¹ Università di Napoli Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy

Drug company funding of continuing medical education may affect doctors’ independence. Alfredo Pisacane argues that it can and should be stopped

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Continuing medical education has become so heavily dependent on support from drug and medical device companies that the ethical underpinnings and the reputation of the medical profession may be compromised. In industrialised countries, drug companies support more than half of continuing medical education activities, and it has been shown that such support can distort the topic selection, embellish the positive elements as well as play down the adverse effects of some interventions, and influence doctors’ prescribing habits.^{1 2 3 4}

To reduce the risk of conflict of interest in continuing medical education, it has been proposed that sponsors should not have any influence over the choice of speakers and scientific contents; moreover, providers and speakers of educational events should provide a full disclosure of the support received. Such disclosure, however, does not protect against the risks of an invisible influence of drug companies on providers, speakers, and participants.⁵

Continuing medical education is compulsory . . . [Full text of this article]

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