A New York Times editorial and a Wall Street Journal opinion piece recently offered opposing views on the federal government's plans to create an online database that would disclose physicians' financial ties to drugmakers and medical device manufacturers.
Supporting the Database
The New York Times editorial argues that the database -- which is called for under the federal health reform law's Physician Payment Sunshine Act -- could curb some "questionable payments" that drugmakers and medical device firms offer to physicians.
The editorial states that the database would "give a welcome boost to otherwise spotty efforts by some companies, medical centers, scientific journals, states and ethical codes to eliminate, minimize or at least disclose financial interests that might cloud medical judgments." It adds that the disclosure also could "help patients decide which doctors to rely on" (New York Times, 1/20).
Opposing the Database
In a Wall Street Journal opinion piece, Thomas Stossel -- a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School -- argues that the Sunshine Act is "a boondoggle for accountants, compliance bureaucrats and the legions of lawyers whom companies will hire to interpret and manage the regulations."
Stossel adds that the database will be a major cost burden, writing that "if the act is implemented, hundreds of millions of dollars better applied to innovation and education will shift to 'Sunshine' management." He adds, "Do you want your doctor pilloried for eating a corporate bagel while getting useful product information that might benefit you? Do you want your hospital hiring compliance officers instead of nurses or laboratory technicians?" (Stossel, Wall Street Journal, 1/23).