ACP signs on to ethics code for interactions with companies

ACP signed on to the Code for Interactions with Companies, released April 21 by the Council of Medical Specialty Societies (CMSS). The code guides medical societies in developing policies and procedures that safeguard the independence and transparency of their programs, policies and advocacy positions in relationships with industry.

The rules suggest that medical societies:publicly post industry support,decline industry funding for developing medical practice guidelines,require most members of a guidelines panel be free of industry ties,disclose the financial ties board members and journal editors have with companies, andban company or product names and logos from conference giveaways.

ACP, a founding member of CMSS, is the largest of the 32 medical specialty societies represented by CMSS, and one of 14 original signers of the CMSS Code.