Johns Hopkins bans drug samples, industry gifts

Johns Hopkins is the latest institution to impose strict rules to limit industry influence on its medical school and hospital.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that the university will ban drug and medical device company sales reps from patient-care areas in its hospital and clinics. Free samples are also off-limits, as are consulting payments “without commensurate associated duties."

Johns Hopkins told the Journal that the new rules make existing policies more explicit.

Earlier this month Stanford University School of Medicine said it would post on its Web site the payments its faculty members receive for consulting or royalties from businesses.

Last month Massachusetts banned gifts from drug and medical device companies to physicians, limited how much doctors can receive for meals, and required businesses to publicly disclose payments to doctors over $50 for certain types of consulting and speaking engagements.