Academy revises ‘commercial interests’ policy

SAN FRANCISCO – The American Academy of Ophthalmology has approved a recommendation from its ethics committee to revise its policy on disclosure of professionally related commercial interests.

The AAO noted that in the current commercial environment, the provision of stock options for clinical researchers, device developers and industry spokespersons has “become common, but not often publicly disclosed,” according to an AAO press release.

The revised document “succinctly states that this practice is antithetical to unbiased research and development” and urges physicians to disclose these relationships to patients, the public and colleagues. To view the revised document, go to www.aao.org, select Ethics, then Advisory Opinion.