Submitted February 27, 2008
Accepted March 26, 2008
Perspective: Investment Analysts and the American Society of Hematology
David P Steensma*
Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
* Corresponding author; email: steensma.david{at}mayo.edu.
Investment analysts are a growing presence at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), and financial professionals frequently contact ASH members for information and perspective on drugs, devices, and scientific developments. Recent incidents have raised concerns about consulting relationships between physicians and the investment industry; the appropriate role of medical societies in influencing these relationships is unclear. In this essay, I summarize the current situation and discuss potential risks and benefits from interactions between physicians and investment analysts, and I outline issues that all individuals involved in investment industry consulting should consider. I also propose changes in ASH policy that may help safeguard public trust, as well as preserve access of clinicians and scientists to clinically relevant data presented at the Annual Meeting.
