Selected attendance by industrial representatives at Department educational events intended for wider audiences may be appropriate if arranged by prior agreement with the Chairperson of the event. Members of Faculty, as role models for residents, should demonstrate sensitivity to and compliance with appropriate ethical behaviour as it relates to their interaction with Industry. The guiding principle of acceptance of financial support should be that the request arises from the RTC and that the RTC and others are willing to communicate the arrangements more widely if requested. While there are differences in the goals and motivation of Industry and Medicine, there are also similarities. It is likely that the relationship between the two will grow increasingly important in future years and that excellent and innovative health care and economic prosperity are compatible.
Industry remains an important collaborator in facilitating the achievement of academic goals.
References Personal communication. Kevin Doucet, Canadian Medical Association, Department of Health Policy and Economics. Education Council, Residency Training Programme in Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, McMaster University. Development of Residency Program Guidelines for Interaction with the Pharmaceutical Industry. Back to the Bioethics Bulletins menu .