Patients’ Views on Surgeons’ Financial Conflicts of Interest

Background The U.S. Department of Justice’s investigations into financial relationships between surgical device manufacturers and orthopaedic surgeons have raised the question as to whether surgeons can continue to collaborate with industry and maintain public trust. We explored postoperative patients’ views on financial relationships between surgeons and surgical device manufacturers, their views on disclosure as a method to manage these relationships, and their opinions on oversight. Methods From November 2010 to March 2011, we surveyed 251 postoperative patients in the U.S. (an 88% response rate) and 252 postoperative patients in Canada (a 92% response rate) in follow-up hip and knee arthroplasty clinics with use of self-administered questionnaires. Patients were eligible to complete the questionnaire if their surgery (primary or revision hip or knee arthroplasty) had occurred at least three months earlier. Results Few patients are worried about possible financial relationships between their surgeon and industry (6% of surveyed patients in the U.S. and 6% of surveyed patients in Canada). Most patients thought that it is appropriate for surgeons to receive payments from manufacturers for activities that can benefit patients, such as royalties for inventions (U.S., 69%; Canada, 66%) and consultancy (U.S., 48%; Canada, 53%). Most patients felt that it is not appropriate for their surgeon to receive gifts from industry (U.S., 63%; Canada, 59%). A majority felt that their surgeon would hold patients’ interests paramount, regardless of any financial relationship with a manufacturer (U.S., 76%; Canada, 74%). A majority of patients wanted their surgeon’s professional organization to ensure that financial relationships are appropriate (U.S., 83%; Canada, 83%); a minority endorsed government oversight of these relationships (U.S., 26%; Canada, 35%). Conclusions Most patients are not worried about possible financial relationships between their surgeon and industry. They clearly distinguish financial relationships that benefit current or future patients from those that benefit the surgeon or device manufacturer. They favor disclosure with professional oversight as a method of managing financial relationships between surgeons and manufacturers.