Sidebar: Unequal Protection?

The definition of commercial interest in the new Standards has stimulated some debate. Standard 1.1 defines a commercial interest as any proprietary entity producing healthcare goods or services. Non-healthcare-related companies are exempt, as they do not have any incentive to insert bias into CME, says Murray Kopelow, MD, chief executive, ACCME. Non-profit groups are also exempt. Standard 1.2 adds that a commercial interest cannot take the role of the nonaccredited partner in a joint