Friday, December 4, 2009

Conflict of Interest at the University of Minnesota

Steve Miles steps up to the plate and hits home run...


I sent this email to President Bruininks and Med School Dean Frank Cerra this morning:

toRobert Bruininks,
Frank Cerra

Dr. Steve Miles, one of the country's most well-known and respected bioethicists has criticized the latest draft COI policy at the University on Gary Schwitzer's Healthcare News blog.

It is imperative that anyone with an interest in COI at the University read this:



Among other things Miles says:

The document identified as Administrative Policy: Individual Conflicts of Interest (DRAFT 11/09/09) (text downloaded from http://blog.lib.umn.edu/bgleason/pt/Coi_draft.pdf) is an incomplete and flawed document that will do little to regulate the kinds of misconduct and concerns that have brought this University and many other United States universities before Congressional inquiries or harsh media scrutiny. I agree with those who are also frustrated with the lack of transparency of the drafting of this fourth generation document.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

___ added later ___

Comment left on Gary Schwitzer's blog:

Thanks so much for posting this, Gary.

Although the medical school and the University of Minnesota have ignored complaints from people like you and me, it is very difficult to dodge these serious criticisms by one of the country's most well-known and respected bioethicists.

Let us fervently hope that the folks in Morrill Hall and the AHC will finally wake up and face their responsibilities.

Sincerely,

Bill Gleason


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