Sale of Non-Health Related Goods from Physicians' Offices

The WSMA has established the following guidelines regarding the sale of non-health related goods from a physicians' office:

1. Physicians should not sell non-health-related goods from their offices or other treatment settings, with the exception noted below.
2. Physicians may sell low-cost non-prescription goods from their offices for the profit of community organizations, provided that a) the goods in question are low-cost, b) the physician takes no share in profit from their sale, c) such sales are not a regular part of the physician's business, d) sales are conducted in a dignified manner, and e) sales are conducted in such a way as to assure that patients are not pressured into making purchases.

(Reaffirmed A-19)

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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