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These guidelines are intended to assist Fellows and Trainees of the College with professional and ethical matters which can arise from their involvement with the healthcare industry. It must always be remembered that while the healthcare industry generally makes its approaches to doctors, healthcare facilities or professional organisations, the ultimate beneficiary of the approach must be the patient

1.   GENERAL PRINCIPLES

1.1   There should be formal and open acknowledgement by the Fellow or group if they are in receipt of financial or material support from the healthcare industry for any professional activity.

1.2   An association between the College and the healthcare industry does not imply endorsement of the product or service being promoted by the industry. A specific disclaimer to this effect should be included with any associated publication.

1.3   Patient benefit should be the ultimate basis for any association with the healthcare industry.

1.4   During the negotiation of any agreement with which the College is directly or indirectly involved, all correspondence must refer to the College status of the negotiator. The final agreement must be subject to College approval. When negotiations are conducted in a personal capacity, no mention of a College affiliation can be made.

2.   CME MEETINGS, ORGANISED BY THE COLLEGE AND SPONSORED BY THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY

2.1   The meeting must be under the control of a College based organising Committee which may include appropriate representation from the healthcare industry.

2.2   The support by the healthcare industry must be fully and formally acknowledged by the organising Committee.

2.3   There must be a disclaimer to separate that support from endorsement (by the College) of any service and/or products being promoted by the healthcare industry.

2.4   Any profit resulting directly or indirectly from support by the healthcare industry must be devoted to further educational or research activities.

2.5   Normal College guidelines for control of the meeting or any session of the meeting must be observed. It is not permissible for primary control of the meeting or any session of the meeting to be assumed by a member of the healthcare industry.

3.   CME MEETINGS, ORGANISED BY THE HEATHCARE INDUSTRY

3.1   When a member of the healthcare industry takes responsibility for a meeting, the College should not be associated with that meeting and specifically should not endorse any service or product being promoted by the meeting.

3.2   The decision whether to attend commercially organised meetings as in 3.1 (often with an associated social activity), should be made having regard to the General Principles.

3.3   Fellows and trainees speaking at commercially organised meetings should consider the General Principles. They should be aware that they are not representing the College, and should not purport to represent the College.

4.   RESEARCH PROJECTS

4.1   It is accepted that the healthcare industry is a major sponsor of research. It is essential that a written contract be established between all parties involved. The contract should involve a neutral third party such as a University, a hospital or a Research Foundation. The contract should be subject to the rules of the third party with all financial arrangements being channeled through them.

4.2   Normal Ethical Committee procedures must be followed and must include full prospective disclosure of the proposed commercial association. This will also apply when seeking patient consent for their participation in any such study.

4.3   If a prize is offered for work performed by a Fellow or trainee, the selection of the prizewinner must be entirely under the control of an appropriately constituted and independent Committee.

5.   INDUSTRY SPONSORED EMPLOYMENT

5.1   Where funding is provided in whole or in part for an employed or training position, it is essential that this be paid through a neutral third party such as the Hospital or University responsible for employment of the Fellow or trainee. All matters related to employment must be subject to the normal rules of the employer.

6.   TRAVEL

6.1   Funds offered on a personal basis to facilitate attendance at an educational activity should be carefully considered having regard to the General Principles noted above. Funding should always be acknowledged in any presentation or report. A letter of thanks may be useful and should be copied to the organisers of the educational activity.

6.2   Travel and tour expenses for a commercially sponsored educational visit to other centres should be considered in terms of the likely professional benefit to all involved. It is essential that talks or lectures are presented in an unbiased manner while acknowledging the support given. A specific disclaimer in respect of the sponsor’s services or product may be appropriate.

COLLEGE PROFESSIONAL DOCUMENTS

College Professional Documents are progressively being coded as follows:

TE Training and Educational

EX Examinations

PS Professional Standards

T Technical

POLICY – defined as ‘a course of action adopted and pursued by the College’. These are matters coming within the authority and control of the College.

RECOMMENDATIONS – defined as ‘advisable courses of action’.

GUIDELINES – defined as ‘a document offering advice’. These may be clinical (in which case they will eventually be evidence-based), or non-clinical.

STATEMENTS – defined as ‘a communication setting out information’.

This document is intended to apply wherever anaesthesia is administered.

This document has been prepared having regard to general circumstances, and it is the responsibility of the practitioner to have express regard to the particular circumstances of each case, and the application of this document in each case.

Professional documents are reviewed from time to time, and it is the responsibility of the practitioner to ensure that the practitioner has obtained the current version. Professional documents have been prepared having regard to the information available at the time of their preparation, and the practitioner should therefore have regard to any information, research or material which may have been published or become available subsequently.

Whilst the College endeavours to ensure that professional documents are as current as possible at the time of their preparation, it takes no responsibility for matters arising from changed circumstances or information or material which may have become available subsequently.

Promulgated: 2000

Reviewed 2005

Date of current document: Sept 2005

© This document is copyright and cannot be reproduced in whole or in part without prior permission.

College Website: http://www.anzca.edu.au/