Wilson Frederic S
Proctor & Gamble Pharmaceuticals, Health Care Research Center, Mason, OH 45040, USA.
Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2003 Jul(412):33-7. doi: 10.1097/01.blo.0000074409.99625.ca.
The quandary is, "How can the very different fiduciary responsibilities of physicians and pharmaceutical companies ethically coexist in a society where its healthcare system is under increasing financial scrutiny?" It is paradoxical that the number of states requiring continuing medical education for medical licensure has increased to 39, in the face of reduced federal funding and the squeeze of managed care. Despite industry's providing more than half of the funding required to sustain the increasing need for continuing medical education, some physicians claim it is inappropriate for continuing medical education sponsors to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies because of their vested interest in selling prescription medications. Is the integrity of the physician-patient relationship at risk? I will show that there are ethical standards in place, for professionals and industry, that are effectively maintaining the continuing medical education system in balance. Eliminating the current opportunities for collaboration between sponsors and commercial supporters would severely compromise the continuing medical education enterprise in the United States, ultimately, a disservice to patients, who expect their physicians to continue their medical education lifelong.
难题在于，“在一个医疗保健系统面临越来越多财务审查的社会中，医生和制药公司截然不同的信托责任如何在伦理上共存？”自相矛盾的是，尽管联邦资金减少且管理式医疗受到挤压，但要求为获得行医执照而进行继续医学教育的州数量已增至39个。尽管行业提供了维持对继续医学教育日益增长的需求所需资金的一半以上，但一些医生声称，继续医学教育主办方与制药公司合作是不合适的，因为制药公司在销售处方药方面有既得利益。医患关系的完整性是否受到威胁？我将表明，针对专业人士和行业，已有道德标准有效维持着继续医学教育系统的平衡。消除主办方与商业支持者之间目前的合作机会将严重损害美国的继续医学教育事业，最终对患者不利，因为患者期望他们的医生终身接受医学教育。
