U of Penn to disclose potential conflicts of interest

Joining a growing national movement, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and its health system have announced that it will begin disclosing information on all of its doctors and scientists' activities, including any ties to pharmas or medical-device firms. The school and system will begin disclosing the information in the spring of 2009, launching a website with searchable data.

The profiles of the doctors and scientists will include the companies they worked with, whether the staffer gets royalties, has equity in the firm, or is paid $5,000 or more in consulting deals. The project expands on Penn's existing policy, which already bans staff members from accepting gifts, meals and free drug samples from pharmaceutical companies and others.

To learn more about Penn's efforts:
- read this piece from The Philadelphia Inquirer

Related Articles:
Congress debates pharma gift disclosure
Study: Pharma disclosure laws not working
Henry Ford bans pharma perks, vendor drop-ins
MDs debate whether accepting giveaways is unethical