Guiding Principles for Pharmaceutical Physicians from the Ethical Issues Committee of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine of the Royal Colleges of Physicians of the UK

Abstract

Medical practitioners practising in the field of pharmaceutical medicine, whether in industry, regulatory bodies or an academic environment, are bound by the same ethical standards which apply to all doctors. Their work, however, leads to some very specific ethical considerations which may not be fully explored in ethical codes based in clinical medicine. This document aims to establish some guiding principles which should underpin a working ethical framework for pharmaceutical physicians. It clearly places the protection of patients (and research subjects) and the doctor's duties to wider society ahead of responsibilities to an individual employer while emphasising the importance of adherence to high standards of research, including dissemination of findings. These principles form the basis of a fuller report which offers more specific practical advice on possible ethical conflicts or dilemmas.

The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine – Foundation, function and future

“…The Faculty first produced its ethical touchstone, the "Guiding Principles for Pharmaceutical Physicians" in 1998 and this was updated and formally published in 2006 [3] , with further revision in November 2010, as a result of a recommendation in the report by the Royal College of Physicians, "Innovating for health: Patients, physicians, the pharmaceutical industry and the NHS".…”

Further lessons from the TGN1412 tragedy

“…Concerns include the commercialisation of research and its loss from clinical and academic centres; the prevalence of inexperienced and small start-up biotechnology companies reliant on venture capital; lack of training and adequate facilities; and the failure to plan for and deal with adverse events. The new ethical guidelines from the royal colleges will lend a supporting voice to some of these aspects of the report 12 13…”

Response to: Ethics, data and the pharmaceutical physician

“…The very recent publications (1,2) are presented as guides to the ethical concerns specifically raised for physicians in the development of new medicines and to the standards expected in their solution. It should be welcomed as a valuable attempt to provide standards and direction for the physician in this specific area.…”