Code of Ethics

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The AdvaMed Code: Translated  |  Global Device Association Codes of Conduct
News Items/Articles

The AdvaMed Board Ethics and Health Care Compliance Committee leads AdvaMed's ethics and health care compliance initiatives, including advocacy for federal physician payment sunshine legislation and stewardship of the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals.

On Dec. 18, 2008, AdvaMed's Board of Directors unanimously approved a major update of the Association's Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. The revised Code, effective as of July 1, 2009, further clarifies and distinguishes between appropriate and inappropriate activity between health care professionals and representatives of AdvaMed member companies. It also presents non-member companies with an opportunity to adopt the AdvaMed Code’s principles and unite industry in addressing common issues in a consistent manner.

The medical technology industry has two goals:

• make today’s medical technologies better; and
• make tomorrow’s medical technologies a reality.

Future advances in medical technologies will depend on the continual interaction between physicians and medical technology companies.  This constant feedback assures physicians have the tools and training they need and that patients have access to safe and effective devices and treatments. AdvaMed has developed the revised and restated  Code of Ethics On Interaction with Health Care Professionals (effective July 1, 2009) for our members to continue to assure a high standard of ethical conduct.

AdvaMed and its members have earlier encouraged ethical business practices and socially responsible industry conduct related to their interactions with health care professionals through:

• AdvaMed's Code of Ethics Certification Program
• AdvaMed's Code of Ethics Logo Supporters Program  - promotes awareness of the AdvaMed Code of Ethics and provides a visible symbol of a medical technology company's commitment to the ethical standards embodied by the Code;
• Access to Compliance Officer Contact Information - AdvaMed's members have provided contact information for many of their health care compliance officers who oversee their company's compliance with fraud and abuse laws and implementation of AdvaMed's "Code of Ethics for Interactions with Health Care Professionals."  These individuals may be contacted as questions arise.
• (Click here to add or update your company's compliance department contact information or anonymous hotline)
• Outreach and Education

• AdvaMed and Kaplan EduNeering are pleased to provide an online, interactive training course on the Revised Code.  Available at a reduced price to AdvaMed members, this course is an excellent way for all interested parties to become familiar with the Code and its provisions.

•   Chinese
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•   Portugese
•   German
•   Italian

Europe -

• Eucomed - Eucomed Guidelines on Interactions with Health Care Professionals (European Confederation of Medical Device Associations)


• EDMA - European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association (EDMA) Code of Ethics


• France - SNITEM Professional Code of Ethics and Conduct


• Italy -
• Assobiomedica Code of Ethics - May 2010 (English Translation)
• Assobiomedica Code of Ethics - May 2010 (Italian)


• United Kingdom - ABHI Code of Conduct for the Medical Devices Industry on the Processing of Personal Data

Canada - MEDEC 2010 Code of Conduct on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals - effective April 5, 2010

• Executive Summary of MEDEC 2010 Code of Conduct on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals

Asia -

• India - Medical Council of India Code of Ethics Regulations 
• Japan - JFMDA Code of Ethics and Promotion Code 

Australia / New Zealand-

• Australia - MTAA / MTANZ Code of Practice (Medical Technology Association of Australia)
• New Zealand - MTAA / MTANZ Code of Practice (Medical Technology Association of New Zealand)

World Medical Association (WMA) - Statement concerning the Relationship between Physicians and Commercial Enterprises

• "The Agenda for Continuing Medical Education-- Limiting Industry's Influence," The New England Journal of Medicine, by Lewis Morris, J.D. and Julie K. Taitsman, M.D., J.D.
• 2010 International Medical Device Industry Compliance Conference (Berlin, Germany) - video highlights:

Highlights of the Keynote Address Delivered by Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General of the Dep't of Health and Human Services, HCCA Annual Compliance Institute, April 19, 2010
Some Questions Compliance Professionals Should Ask as They Prepare for Health Care Reform, Excerpt from keynote address delivered by Daniel Levinson, Inspector General of HHS, at HCCA Annual Compliance Institute
• "Patient Perceptions of Surgeon-Industry Relations," 2010 AAOS Annual Meeting Podium Presentation, March 12, 2010
• Impact of Pharmaceutical Guidelines and Industry Funding on Healthcare Organizations, PCMA Survey by The Boone Group
• "Ethics/Physicians/Industry: The New Rules of the Road," EyeNet  Magazine, May 2009
• "How to Comply with the New AdvaMed Code of Ethics,"  Regulatory Affairs Journal, May/June 2009 (used with permission) Article by Andrew Van Haute, AdvaMed's associate general counsel.
• "The Changing Relationships Between Physicians and Device Makers: Learn the stories behind the headlines," Cataract & Refractive Surgery Today Supplement,  February 2009 (used with permission)
• "AdvaMed adopts expanded code of ethics,"  OR Manager Magazine, February 2009 (used with permission)
• "AdvaMed Toughens Ethics Code" by Tamar Hosansky, in Medical Meetings  Magazine, Jan. 14, 2009.
• Press Release on the Revised and Restated AdvaMed Code of Ethics, December 18, 2008.
• "Medical devices and conflict of interest: unique issues and an industry code to address them" by Paul LaViolette, Boston Scientific Corporation, in the Cleveland Cinic Journal of Medicine, March 2007  (used with permission)
• "Medical Devices: Industry’s Proactive Response to Conflicts of Interest" in CNSQ Fall 2007 Vol 8 Number 3
• AdvaMed Letter to the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General /Industry Guidance Branch, requesting guidance concerning Certain Physician-Device Firm Arrangements (Sept. 6, 2006)
• Office of Inspector General response letter (Oct. 6, 2006)

• U.S. Government: Ethics & Codes of Conduct
• Codes of Ethics from US and non-US Health Care Associations 
• Reference Document - Previous version of AdvaMed's Code of Ethics (effective Jan. 1, 2004 through June 30, 2009) which also includes Frequently Asked Questions