The University of Minnesota has adopted new ethics rules governing potential conflicts of interest between medical and dental school personnel and businesses, including drug and medical device companies, according to a story in the Star Tribune.
The new ethics policy, which took effect August 4, is meant for all university personnel but is tougher on faculty and staff at the academic health center, which includes the schools of medicine, dentistry, and nursing, according to school officials.
The new rules require university personnel to report their financial interests, executive positions, and board memberships to the school annually. The dollar threshold for triggering a conflict-of-interest review is $5,000 at the academic health center, compared with $10,000 for others at the university.
The policy bans industry from providing faculty and staff with meals, entertainment, and gifts such as the coffee mugs and pens often used as marketing tools by drug firms and others, the Star Tribune reported. Faculty and staff are also barred from promoting products or services, accepting payment for recruiting patients for clinical studies, and completing evaluations or surveys developed by businesses.
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