US accrediting agency tightens rules for continuing medical education

The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, which accredits the continuing medical education (CME) courses required of most US physicians, has announced changes to limit the influence of the pharmaceutical industry. The council's seven members, including the American Medical Association, approved the changes, which affect the council's nearly 700 accredited providers of education.

The changes have come about, in part, because leading doctors who speak on the courses often have ties to pharmaceutical firms. Previously experts exposed their industry ties, but were free to speak about off label or investigational uses of drugs—uses not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Although speakers may still discuss such uses, they must confine their discussions to evidence based …