Star-Tribune: University of Minnesota makes "dramatic improvements" in COI policies

11/18/2009

New draft policies on conflicts of interest released by the University of Minnesota are a “dramatic improvement” over the medical school’s old rules, writes the Minneapolis Star-Tribune editorial board.  But the Star-Tribune says in the three month run-up to approval, the university should “be bolder in several key areas of the draft,” especially in the way faculty would be required to disclose outside income. The draft, released last week after multiple delays, would require faculty and staff to tick boxes indicating a range of outside income received, above $10,000 and up to $250,000. A faculty member making more than that amount in a year would not have to indicate how much.

The policies, like some other policies that university-housed medical schools have put forward, apply to the entire university, and establish better enforcement mechanisms than were previously in place at the Minneapolis-based medical center. All gifts and meals are banned, and ghostwriting is prohibited. The Star-Tribune points out that a state law prohibits public disclosure of payment information, and the editors recommend that such a law be changed so as to give the public access to all this info transparency is bringing out.

Read the editorial, and coverage at the Star-Tribune, the Minnesota Daily and Minnesota Public Radio.