Physicians and philosophers have contributed to the field of medical ethics several different paradigms for the physician-patient relationship. Here I suggest another: marriage. Patients usually enter into relationships as we enter marriage: we allow our high hopes to obscure the possibility of deep disappointment. The argument of the essay encourages renewed focus on the contractual element of...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the rate and type of inconsistencies between disclosures self-reported by physicians at a major academic meeting in the United States and industry-reported disclosures in the Open Payments database for a concordant time period. METHODS Disclosures for every first and last author from the United States with a medical degree of a podium or p...

Firms need to develop new capabilities to sustain competitive advantage, which include formulating unique, direct relationships with customers. To compete by integrating e-business in all aspects a firm's operations translates into need for developing new skills as traditional ways of competing become insufficient (Porter 2001). Towards this end pharmaceutical firms are using the Web to institu...

BACKGROUND Academic literature extensively documents gender disparities in the medical profession with regard to salary, promotion, and government funded research. However, gender differences in the value of financial ties to industry have not been adequately studied despite industry's increasing contribution to income and research funding to physicians in the U.S. METHODS & FINDINGS We analy...

OBJECTIVES Physician relationships with device industry representatives have not been previously assessed. This study explored interactions with device industry representatives among physicians who use implantable cardiovascular and orthopedic devices to identify whether conflict of interest (COI) is a concern and how it is managed. DESIGN A descriptive qualitative approach was used. Physicia...

BY MICHAEL R. PANICOLA, Ph.D., & RON HAMEL, Ph.D. From top, Dr. Panicola is corporate vice president, ethics, SSM Health Care, and Dr. Hamel is senior director, ethics, Catholic Health Association, both in St. Louis. J P hysicians have long been committed to promoting the best interests .JSk»_ of their patients, ensuring scientific integrity in research, and making treatment decisions free of b...

PURPOSE Physicians and their spouses experience challenges to their relationships, some of which are shared with the general population and others of which are unique to the field of medicine. Trainees and junior faculty members remain curious about how they will balance their careers alongside marriage and family obligations. This study explores the challenges and strengths of dual- and single...