Dr Jane Johnson1, Dr Brette Blakely1, Associate Professor Bernadette Richards2, Prof. Wendy Rogers1
1Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University, Macquarie University, Australia, 2Medical School, the University of Queensland , Herston, Australia
Biography:
Jane is an ARC Future Fellow and field philosopher in the Department of Philosophy, Macquarie University. She researches ethical and epistemological questions in science and medicine, and her work is driven by a commitment to the vulnerable and to research that enhances lives.
Dr Blakely is an academic with expertise in bioethics and health system improvement specialising in the ethics of assisted reproduction, conflicts of interest in medicine, surgical innovation and public health ethics. Her research has an emphasis on using multidisciplinary approaches to develop novel solutions to practical problems in healthcare.
Bernadette is Associate Professor Ethics, Law and Professionalism, University of Qld Medical School. She served on the NHMRC’s Australian Health Ethics and Embryo Research Licensing Committees and Chaired the Mitochondrial Donation Expert Working Committee, helping draft the new law. Bernadette is past President of AABHL, has researched organ donation, consent to treatment, and legal issues around innovative surgery. Her current research focuses on innovation in healthcare.
Wendy Rogers bio to come.
Abstract:
Medical device representatives (MDRs) who are industry employees and not clinically trained are increasingly involved in many aspects of surgery, filling apparent gaps in knowledge and skills. MDRs may be involved in training, procedure planning, offering advice and operating equipment during procedures. Their role has become deeply embedded, regarded as essential, and normalized. Yet such involvement raises important ethical and legal concerns regarding rising healthcare costs, conflicts of interest, the outsourcing of expertise, liability, accountability and patient consent. Significantly, the role of the MDRs has evolved outside of any specifically identified regulatory framework, meaning that alongside the knowledge and skill gap MDRs potentially fill, there exists a regulatory gap that warrants careful consideration.
This interactive panel will draw on interviews undertaken with stakeholders in Australian hospitals as part of the ARC Discovery Project 'Support or sales? Medical device representatives in Australian hospitals'. We will use our findings to highlight particular ethical and legal challenges, and to pose questions and invite discussion about how to develop and promote the regulatory and policy change that is urgently required in this area.
Dr Jane Johnson, Macquarie University, Facilitator
Dr Brette Blakely, Macquarie University, Ethical issues
Assoc Prof Bernadette Richards, The University of Queensland, Legal issues
Dist Prof Wendy Rogers, Macquarie University, Regulation and policy