Per WSJ today, the North American Spine Society (NASS) under pressure from lawmakers is requiring that docs who are under the payroll of medical device-companies disclose to patients their relationship and the amounts.
This is a binding policy and not voluntary. NASS’ ethics chairwoman, an orthopedist in Tucson, AZ acknowledges that this may not be enough to deal with conflict of interest but at least a first step to “…ensure that these things are addressed”.
This reminds me of years ago when a few state’s worker’s comp regulations required physicians to inform patient’s if they had a financial interest in physical therapy. On every referral or medical chart of a patient referred, there was a rubber stamped one sentence disclosure whose font was about a size 5. It had zero impact and was later rescinded. I suspect the NASS disclosure requirement will be equally ineffective.
Thoughts?
