Earlier this summer, I wrote about a proposal to overturn Massachusetts' physician-gift ban. This afternoon, the Health Blog is reporting that the ban likely won't be repealed, after all - which means that Massachusetts physicians will still be prohibited from accepting most gifts, including small freebies like pens, from drug and device companies.
The news follows Harvard's recent announcement of a tougher conflict-of-interest policy for its faculty. Under new rules, which will go into effect Jan. 1, professors will "no longer be able to take industry money to speak for drug or medical device companies or accept gifts, travel or meals." Stanford implemented a similar policy in 2006.
Previously: A call to repeal Massachusetts' physician-gift ban, Medical groups beefing up conflict-of-interest policies
Photo by Plutor
