WHY HAS MEDEC ADOPTED A CODE OF CONDUCT FOR THE
CANADIAN MEDICAL DEVICE INDUSTRY?
With more interest in accountability, there was a high interest among the membership and
the Board to develop a standard that can be used to guide behaviour and medical device
industry conduct. Attention is being given to a code of conduct or ethics globally. Because
many of MEDEC’s Members have head offices in the United States, some of the interest
has been spurred by the recent implementation of the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on
interaction with Healthcare Professionals. As well, Eucomed has launched its Code of
Business Practice. Here in Canada, other Canadian health care industry associations,
such as Rx&D and the Canadian Medical Association, have also put in place some type of
code or guidelines for acceptable behaviour.
WHY IS MEDEC’S CODE OF CONDUCT DIFFERENT THAN
ADVAMED’S CODE OF ETHICS AND EUCOMED’S CODE OF BUSINESS
PRACTICE?
Most certainly, there are similarities found in the guiding principles and the intent within
each of the industry association’s codes. A “made in Canada” code however is required
because our federal and provincial laws and our regulations are in some cases different.
WHY DID MEDEC DEVELOP A CODE DISTINCT FROM THE RX&D
CODE ON INTERACTIONS WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS?
MEDEC’s Code of Conduct reflects the unique interactions between medical
technology companies and Healthcare Professionals, just as the Rx&D Code
reflects the nature of interactions between pharmaceutical companies and
Healthcare Professionals. Main differences can be attributed to the attempt by
the industry to ensure that Healthcare Professionals understand how to use
medical technology safely and effectively.
WHO ARE “HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS”? DOES THE TERM
INCLUDE NON-CLINICAL PEOPLE WHO MAKE PRODUCT PURCHASING
DECISIONS?
The term “Healthcare Professionals” is broadly defined with the intent to
encompass anyone with material influence over purchasing decisions. The
definition provided within the codes includes those “individuals and entities that
purchase, lease, recommend, use, arrange for the purchase or lease of, or
prescribe Member’s medical technology products in Canada.” Both clinical and
non-clinical people who make product-related decisions of the sort listed are
included. There are likely other laws and codes applicable to relationships with
Healthcare Professionals, such as those that outline relationships with government
employees.
DOES THE MEDEC CODE OFFER LEGAL ADVICE?
No. The Code is intended to facilitate ethical behavior, and is not intended to be,
nor should it be, construed as legal advice. All Members have an independent
obligation to ascertain that their interactions with Healthcare Professionals
comply with all current laws and regulations.
