Harvard Medical boosts conflict-of-interest rules

Harvard Medical School is toughening its conflict-of-interest rules to prohibit faculty from giving promotional talks on behalf of drug and medical device makers, or accepting personal gifts from those same companies.

Dr. Robert Mayer, co-chairman of the committee that wrote the new policy, tells The Boston Globe the new rules are designed to keep doctors from becoming, or being perceived as, marketing agents for industry. He says the school wants to do what's in the best interest of patients.

The new rules that get phased in starting Jan. 1 place stricter limits on the income faculty can earn from companies for consulting, joining boards, and other work; require public reporting of payments of at least $5,000; and promise better internal reporting and monitoring of these relationships.