Professional standards regarding the sale of products and services to patients

Approved

May 25, 2018

Preamble

The sale of products or services by physicians to patients gives rise to potential ethical problems.

The College endorses the Canadian Medical Association Code of Ethics, as it relates to the sale of products or services by physicians to patients. This standard should be read in conjunction with the College’s Professional Standards Regarding Conflict of Interest.

Professional standard(s)

  1. Physicians must disclose to patients any financial interest they have with the manufacture or sale of a product or service.
  2. As with any clinical decision, the decision to sell products and services must be evidenced based. Physicians must provide accurate information to the patient about the product or service to ensure the patients ability to make an informed decision.

Resources

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia:

Canadian Medical Association:

Acknowledgements

In developing this document the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Nova Scotia incorporated relevant sections of the Canadian Medical Association’s Code of Ethics as included in the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia’s document Promotion and Sale of Products, May 2014.

Document History

Approved by Council:September 28, 2001, March 10, 2006, May 27, 2011, May 22, 2015, May 25, 2018
Review date:2021
Unless otherwise noted, this material is © College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia. This material may be reproduced for non-commercial purposes, in whole or in part, provided that credit is given to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia or other original source identified in this document. Any other use requires permission from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.

The College acknowledges that we are in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship. We also acknowledge that people of African descent have been in Nova Scotia for over 400 years, and we honour and offer gratitude to those ancestors.