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Concerns about conflict of interests apply to Grassley, too
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Candidate
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| Contributor | Craverguy |
| Last Edited | Craverguy Jun 09, 2009 10:31am |
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| Category | Opinion |
| News Date | Sunday, June 7, 2009 06:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Over the last several years, Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley has aggressively campaigned against conflict of interests in academic medicine. He has criticized academics at dozens of institutions across the country, including but not limited to Harvard and Stanford universities. His primary targets are government-funded researchers who had undisclosed or inadequately disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry. The concern as detailed by Grassley in a letter to the chancellor of the University of Texas system is that "funding from pharmaceutical companies can influence scientific studies, continuing medical education, and the prescribing patterns of doctors." Beyond disclosure of this conflict, Grassley demands an explanation of how "the interest has been managed, reduced, or eliminated."
The disclosure and management of conflict of interests is indeed an important concern for those with an ethical and fiduciary responsibility to act in the best interests of others. Physicians have a responsibility to act in the best interests of their patients. Elected officials have a responsibility to act in the best interests of those they represent. We should be pleased Grassley has brought up this very timely, relevant issue.
The Senate Finance Committee, on which Grassley serves as the ranking member, has recently taken up the issue of health-care reform. While potential conflicts of interest for committee members have not been formally disclosed as part of the process, the data is publicly available. According to MAPLight.org, Grassley received $376,893 and $243,722 in campaign contributions from the insurance and pharmaceutical industries, respectively, from 2003-2008. During this time, Committee Chairman Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) received $592,185 and $524,813, from the same respective industries. There does not appear to be any plan to reduce or eliminate these apparent conflicts of interests. |
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