One of the largest doctors' groups in the United States, the American Academy of Family Physicians, has refused to rent exhibition space to a campaigning group that says that pharmaceutical industry promotions are leading to bad patient care. But the academy has agreed to rent space at its annual scientific assembly to the fast food giant, McDonalds, alongside various pharmaceutical companies.

The academy, which will hold its annual scientific assembly in San Francisco from 28 September to 2 October, has refused to allow the non-profit making organisation No Free Lunch, based in New York, to rent exhibit space at the …