Many doctors have told lies about their mistakes or withheld information concerning their financial relationships with drug manufacturers, a survey from Massachusetts General Hospital in the US has found.
The study of 1900 doctors, published in the journal Health Affairs, found that nearly one-fifth of physicians hadn't fully disclosed their mistakes over the previous year in order to avoid being sued.
"There's an expectation that our doctors will be truthful, and most are but some are not," said study co-author Eric Campbell, director of research at the hospital’s Mongan Institute for Health Policy.
Additionally, 40 percent of doctors said they didn't think it was necessary to tell patients if they had accepted speaking fees or a gifts from the manufacturer of the drug or device manufacturer they were prescribing.
The researchers didn't determine whether a physician's dishonesty caused any harm to the patients.
Late last year, a former pharmaceutical saleswoman told Radio National that she regularly paid senior Australian doctors to fly to international conferences to deliver promotional presentations about new drugs.
Peak body Medicines Australia said the pharmaceutical industry is considering greater transparency as part of a review of its code of conduct, however the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has opposed naming doctors who accept hospitality or speaking fees from drug companies.
"It's not a secrecy issue, it's really a matter of being realistic about looking after the rights of both the patients but also the rights of the doctors. I guess there's concern that just because you're on a register that somehow that besmirches your reputation," said AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton.
Have your say: Should doctors disclose whether they have received gifts or funding from a drug company?
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