One hopes that when defining the clinical practice guidelines for a given disease and the prescribing practices for a particular drug, the physicians on the panel who determine these things would have no vested interest in suggesting one medication or another. To the contrary, a recent study on diabetes and cholesterol prescribing recommendations found that this is most certainly not the case. Fully 52% of the panel members and 50% of the panel chairs convened to determine diabetes and cholesterol care, had a financial conflict of interest with drug companies. Though some disclosed their ties to drug companies, many others did not. Moreover, many of these panels have no disclosure rules. Beyond simple disclosure, a good first step, I think we all agree that those in charge of deciding the course of our care, should have no financial ties to the industry.
Related links:
Medical Panels Are Rife With Financial Conflicts
