Ms Kanny Ooi1
1Medical Council Of New Zealand, Wellington, Aotearoa / New Zealand
Biography:
Kanny Ooi is a Senior Policy Adviser & Researcher at the Medical Council of New Zealand. Her role primarily involves researching and writing standards for the New Zealand medical profession. These are used to assess a doctor’s conduct and competence, and to encourage adherence to best practice.
Kanny completed a Bachelor of Property and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland, and a Master of Bioethics and Health Law (with Distinction) from the University of Otago. AABHL conferences have a special place for Kanny who won the John McPhee Prize in 2012, and the Max Charlesworth Prize in 2013.
Abstract:
Interactions between doctors and industry can be beneficial when it advances medical knowledge, supports professional development, and improves patient care. However, despite industry’s contribution to medicine, its primary motive is usually profit-driven which may be at odds with the doctor’s legal and ethical obligations to act in the patient’s best interests.
Managing such conflicts can be challenging. For example, while the medical profession acknowledges that there are some negative effects from engaging with industry, many doctors believe that they are personally immune to industry’s influence. Consequently, that can compromise their professionalism and clinical objectivity particularly if the doctor (or someone they have a close relationship with) receives inducement from industry. It could also erode trust and how patients and the public perceive the medical profession.
This presentation will highlight key aspects from the Medical Council of New Zealand’s statement on ‘Doctors and health-related commercial organisations’. It will outline measures for identifying and managing conflicts of interest such as being transparent about relationships with industry, critically appraising information from industry, and ensuring that there is an evidenced clinical basis for the investigations and treatments that are prescribed. It will discuss the challenges of prioritising patients’ interests in a small country where healthcare is provided by a mix of public and private organisations, and where it is common for doctors to work for, or have interests in private health facilities. Ultimately, our statement is about how doctors should conduct themselves so that they are ethical and trustworthy in all their dealings.
Presentation Slides PDF – Click here