Jerome P. Kassirer: How Financial Conflicts of Interest Endanger our Profession

In recent years, physicians have been receiving gifts, food, honoraria, consulting fees, free continuing medical education and research funds from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries. In many instances, including clinical practice guideline panels, FDA advisory groups, and research programs, this largesse has been a corrupting influence on medical decision-making and has damaged the trust between patients and the medical profession. Efforts to reverse this trend and restore trust are underway.