Pediatricians Facing Industry-Sponsored Pressures: Key Ethical Considerations

Interactions between physicians and pharmaceutical companies are common for mutual exchange of medical knowledge; pediatric field is no exception. However, vested commercial interests could encourage irrational prescribing behavior. The pharmaceutical industry can offer free drug samples, gifts, travel expenses and honoraria to physicians in addition to sponsorship for academic events, access to medical softwares or academic activities in return for promoting and endorsing their products. Given that pediatricians care for a particularly vulnerable population, they bear an added responsibility to uphold the highest standards of ethical professional conduct. Financial transparency, protection of data confidentiality, stricter framework by the journal editors in evaluating possible gift authorships and industry-facilitated research and careful vigil by professional bodies (Academies/Societies/Associations) are a few solutions that could ensure that their members adhere to ethical standards and regulatory guidelines.