The orthopaedic surgeon and industry - Ethics and industry incentives

Physicians may receive various gifts and incentives from companies that mak e pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Although such incentives may benefit patients and physicians, they often pose serious conflicts of interest tha t violate a physician's professional responsibility, The physician-patient relationship is predicated on the physician acting in the best interest of the patient. The application of medical knowledge to complex clinical circu mstances is difficult, even without biased sources of information and inter nal conflicts attributable to financial incentives. Yet, industry resources often are dedicated to the dissemination of information and incentives aim ed to influence decisions not necessarily aimed at the goals of the patient . Physicians often are unaware of the nature of the incentives and commonly deny their demonstrated impact. Any incentive that is designed to impede, rather than enhance, the clinician's ability to make optimal patient care d ecisions is unethical for a physician to accept. These incentives should pl ay no role in the practice of orthopaedic surgery.