Recognizing the need to work with industry in mutually beneficial as well as ethical ways in a variety of activities, the AANS currently requires a number of mechanisms for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. A summary of main mechanisms of disclosure follows.
As an organization focused on education, the AANS follows all guidelines established by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for ACCME-accredited activities. The AANS Updated Standards for Managing Conflicts of Interest in Educational Activities provides an overview of related AANS policy. As the document describes, presenters at AANS educational activities must disclose financial relationships with commercial interests via an online mechanism at password-protected www.MyAANS.org, and they additionally are required to submit an online statement which certifies that presentations will give a balanced view of therapeutic options, among other things.
At the 2008 AANS Annual Meeting, disclosure of conflicts of interest will gain increased visibility with implementation of disclosed information shown on the second slide of every educational presentation. Also at the annual meeting, because the AANS does not endorse individual companies or their products, the AANS neither allows exhibitors access to the press room nor accepts exhibitor material for distribution in the press room.
Exhibitors at AANS meetings are subject to the rules and regulations that are outlined in the exhibitor prospectus and which are part of the exhibitor contract. The purpose of exhibits is to complement the professional meetings and scientific sessions by enabling registrants to examine and evaluate the latest developments in equipment, supplies, and services that are presented for use in the course of neurosurgical practice.
The AANS Guidelines for Corporate Relations offer comprehensive protocols for the interaction between AANS representatives and industry. Exhibiting, advertising, corporate giving, and educational activities are among the areas addressed.
The AANS Neurosurgeon and AANS publications in the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing Group ask authors to disclose conflicts of interest as part of the copyright assignment process. Disclosure information is printed with the published articles.
In addition, to ensure that the decisions and actions of the AANS are not unduly influenced by special interests, volunteer leadership and management staff are subject to the AANS Conflict of Interest Policy. The policy prohibits, among other things, ownership or financial interest in an outside interest that does business with the AANS and requires annual disclosure of possible conflicts of interest.
In July 2007, the AANS issued a policy statement on neurosurgeons and industry. The statement affirms the AANS position that the ethical care of patients is the highest priority for neurosurgeons and that the AANS has taken deliberate steps to prevent industry from unethical influence in any AANS activity.
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