Three Bs and a D for med schools on conflict-of-interest policies

Harvard got an F last year when it did not submit a policy. This year, amid criticism from Congress and its own students, the medical school strengthened its conflict-of-interest rules.

"This year's AMSA grade more accurately reflects the seriousness with which HMS and our affiliated hospitals have always taken our policies and processes related to conflicts of interest and commitment," according to a statement from Harvard spokesman David J. Cameron.

Tufts was praised in the scorecard for banning gifts and on-site meals provided by drug companies, but the school was urged to review its external relationships, ban participation in speakers’ bureaus, spell out policies regulating industry-funded scholarships, and provide guidelines for its clinical affiliates.

"Tufts University School of Medicine operates independently from its teaching hospitals and clinics and many of the areas cited by AMSA apply only to clinical facilities," spokeswoman Christine Fennelly said in a statement. "We continue to work actively with our teaching affiliates to make our conflict of interest policies consistent."

BU, which held steady with its B, responded to the suggestion that it add conflict-of-interest subject matter to its curriculum, saying the topic is covered in courses, lectures, and conferences.

"Since 2007, Boston University School of Medicine has had one of the most stringent policies regulating interaction among clinicians and representatives of the pharmaceutical and device industries among academic medical centers in the U.S.," spokeswoman Gina Digravio said in a statement.

UMass slipped from last year's A to B based on a lower rating of its policy for on-site educational events.

Dr. Terence R. Flotte, dean of UMass Medical, said the school was satisfied that companies sponsoring events on campus do not control what is presented.

"They can't decide who we get and what we speak about," he said in an interview.

The national medical student's group evaluates policies at 149 medical colleges and colleges of osteopathic medicine. Its scorecard was developed with the Pew Prescription Project and issued for the first time last year. In 2007 the students reported whether medical schools had policies in place.