Sale of Health-Related Goods from Physicians' Offices
The WSMA has established the following guidelines regarding the sale of
health related goods from a physicians' office: "Health-related products"
are any products that, according to the manufacturer or distributor,
benefit health. "Selling" refers to the activity of dispensing items that
are provided from the physician's office in exchange for money and also
includes the activity of endorsing a product that the patient may order or
purchase elsewhere that results in direct remuneration for the physician.
The primary obligation of physicians is to serve the interests of their
patients. In-office sale of health-related products by physicians may
present a conflict of interest, could risk placing undue pressure on the
patient, and could erode patient trust. When these items offer some
health-related benefits, the physician's influence over the sale is
amplified and makes it even more necessary for physicians to be cognizant
of their special relationship with their patients.
Physicians who do sell health-related products from their offices should
not sell any health-related goods whose claims lack scientific validity.
Physicians should rely on peer-reviewed literature and other unbiased
sources that review evidence in a sound, systematic fashion when judging
the efficacy of the product.
Physicians who sell health-related products from their offices should
follow these guidelines to limit their conflicts of interest, minimize the
risk of brand endorsement, and ensure a focus on benefits to patients.
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Physicians may distribute health-related products to their patients in
order to make useful products readily available to those patients who
may benefit from the use of such products. Recommendations to use a
product must be made in the patient's best interest, not solely to
supplement the physician's income.
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Physicians must disclose fully the nature of their financial arrangement
with a manufacturer or supplier to sell health-related products.
Disclosure includes informing patients of financial interests as well as
about the availability of the product or other equivalent products
elsewhere. Disclosure can be accomplished through face-to-face
communication or by posting an easily understood written notification in
a prominent location that is accessible by all patients in the office.
In addition, physicians should, upon request, provide patients with
understandable literature that relies on scientific standards in
addressing the validity of the health-related goods.
(JC Rpt B, A-99) (Reaffirmed A-23)
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Abbreviations for House of Delegates report origination:
EC – Executive Committee; BT – Board of Trustees; CPA – Council on
Professional Affairs; JC – Judicial Council; CHS – Community and Health
Services