The UW School of Medicine is looking for new ways to provent potential conflicts of interest between doctors and private companies.
When a doctor prescribes a drug, some patients may wonder if it's the best solution for them. It's a common question raised at the UW School of Medicine, where many doctors work with pharmaceutical companies on research or consulting.
Dr. Robert Golden, a dean at the UW School of Medicine, says the University is hoping to ease some of those fears with a new task force. The panel is charged with setting up a policy to help prevent conflicts of interest. Golden says many departments and clinics already have their own such policies in place, but the UW wants a uniform approach to the issue.
Golden says the goal is to ease the concerns of patients, while still encouraging vital research.
The task force is expected to report its findings early next year. However, officials are already planning to implement a policy in January that will help patients understand if a conflict exists. Signs will be posted in UW hospitals and clinics urging patients to ask about any relationships a doctor may have with the private sector.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:14)
