RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society opposes the sale of non-health related products by physicians’ offices; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society opposes the sale of health-related products except in limited circumstances. The in-office sale of health-related products by physicians presents a financial conflict of interest, risks placing undue pressure on the patients, and threatens to erode patient trust and the primary obligation of physicians to serve the interests of their patients before their own. The sale of practice-related health items (such as ointments, creams, and lotions by dermatologists; splints and appliances by orthopedists; eye glasses by ophthalmologists; etc.), however, may be acceptable provided: (1) the patient is informed about the availability of those items, or generically similar items, from other sources; (2) the health-related products have some scientific validity as demonstrated in peer-reviewed literature and other unbiased scientific sources; and (3) the charges for such items are reasonable and the nature of the financial arrangement with the manufacturer or supplier is disclosed; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the North Carolina Medical Society opposes physician participation in exclusive distributorships and/or personal branding, due to the potential for patient exploitation.