Comment Summary

The Association of American Medical Colleges recently recommended that medical schools and teaching hospitals should ban gifts from pharmaceutical and medical device companies including free food, travel and ghostwriting services. The AAMC said the following, "Over recent decades, medical schools and teaching hospitals have become increasingly dependent on industry support of their core educational missions. This reliance raises concerns because such support, including gifts, can influence the objectivity and integrity of academic teaching, learning, and practice, thereby calling into question the commitment of academia and industry together to promote the public’s interest by fostering the most cost-effective, evidence-based medical care possible." What is your opinion on the AAMC recommendation?
#	Response Date	Other (please specify)
1.	6/11/2008 11:41:00 AM	This is theoretical and not evidence based as a conclusion
2.	6/11/2008 1:24:00 PM	But where is the money to come from?
3.	6/11/2008 1:58:00 PM	I partially agree with AAMC
4.	6/11/2008 1:59:00 PM	I partially agree with AAMC
5.	6/11/2008 3:25:00 PM	Unfortunately, given the lack of non-industry funding available, many medical schoold and departments need this financial support to function. These dealings would not be as prevalent if more funding was available from the government, university, etc.
6.	6/11/2008 3:25:00 PM	Unfortunately, given the lack of non-industry funding available, many medical schoold and departments need this financial support to function. These dealings would not be as prevalent if more funding was available from the government, university, etc.
7.	6/12/2008 12:58:00 AM	Ghostwriting services? Can't those in academia write any longer? Were they ALL schooled in the government-controlled public schools? Are our academic so dishonest that their objectivity can be influenced by a free lunch?
8.	6/12/2008 11:59:00 AM	I agree that any activity in which the medical industry controls content or ties the support to dissemination of advertising materials should be banned.
9.	6/24/2008 3:02:00 AM	Again this is too deep of a question to answer all or none. Free food travel and ghostwriting services should be banned. The medical industry should be able to provide unrestricted grants to further education and research.
10.	6/25/2008 4:11:00 PM	You have to trust that physicians generally do what is in the best interest of their patients