Association for Medical Ethics Honors Medical Investigative Journalist with the AME Award for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism and Advancing Transparency in Medicine

John Fauber of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is the First Award Recipient

Fauber's investigations exemplify the mission of the Association for Medical Ethics, a group of physicians from every specialty dedicated to increasing public awareness of financial transparency in medical research and the use of evidence-based medicine with the ultimate goal to better patient care and safety. Fauber's work has uncovered financial conflicts such as physician researchers paid by drug and medical device companies for clinical testing to obtain FDA approval and medical device companies concealing evidence of poor outcomes in clinical trials, which has resulted in the releasing of unsafe devices marketed to physicians and implanted in patients.

"The purpose of the award is to recognize the highest level of disclosure and professionalism in taking on these important issues, which are only infrequently addressed in the media," said Charles Burton, president of AME.

"John Fauber's relentless investigating and dedication to review thousands of medical documents, research and scientific papers, and internal corporate communication to document corruption represents, in our opinion, the essence of journalistic excellence."

AME has resembled a modern day re-incarnation of the David and Goliath story in its efforts to assist in driving the passing of the Physicians Payments Sunshine Act. Likewise, AME sees a corollary in Fauber's iron-willed investigative reporting published in the series "Side Effects" launched in 2009. With intense scrutiny, Fauber has followed the drug and medical device industry's money permeating research, clinical trials, medical publishing, government regulation, marketing to surgeons, physician education and patient care. As a veteran investigative reporter, Fauber has served as a watchdog for 35 years. Since 2010, Fauber's investigations also have been published in MedPage Today, a national medical news web site. Around 1995, he moved from business reporting into health and medicine and science reporting at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

AME will present this lifetime achievement award to Fauber at the Association of Medical Ethics Symposium Under the Influence – Medicine in the Post Physician Payment Sunshine Act World – Changes, Challenges and Confusion to be held in association with the University of California, Irvine, from 1 pm to 5 pm on Friday, February 28, 2014 at the Beckman Center in Irvine, Calif., with a cocktail reception to follow.

AME and UC Irvine Health Symposium to Examine Transparency and Disclosure in the field of Medicine

Register now for Under the Influence – Medicine in the Post Physician Payment Sunshine Act World – Changes, Challenges and Confusion on Feb. 28, 2014

During this afternoon symposium, attendees will have an opportunity to listen to medical experts from AME and UC Irvine Health, as well as speakers from other organizations as they discuss and debate the legal, ethical and practical requirements of full financial disclosure.

Physicians attending the AME UCI Symposium may earn Continuing Medical Education credits. This activity is approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The course fee is $40 per person.

Symposium Agenda

Friday, February 28, 2014

• 12pm – 1pm – Registration and Check in
• 1pm - 5pm - Symposium

Symposium Welcome

1:00-1:30pm – Welcoming Remarks & Opening Comments

• Charles Burton, MD, President of the Association for Medical Ethics, Neurosurgical Spine Specialist and Medical Director, Sentinel Medical Associates, Editor, Burtonreport.com, Former Board Member and past President NASS
• Howard Gillman, PhD, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor, University of California, Irvine
• Ranjan Gupta, MD, Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Anatomy & Neurobiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Irvine

Session One - Moderator – Charles Burton, MD

1:30-1:55pm – Physician Payments Sunshine Act Updates
Charles Rosen, MD, Co-Founder and Board Member of the Association for Medical Ethics, and Clinical Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery University of California, Irvine

1:55-2:20pm – Industry Supported RCT: Some Food for Thoughts
Zeev Kain, MD, MBA, Assoc. Dean for Clinical Operations, Chair of the Dept. of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Care at UC Irvine Health

2:20-3:00pm – Twenty-First Century Conundrums: What to Do About Evidence, Value, and Truth
Allan Korn, MD, Former Chief Medical Officer, Blue Cross/Blue Shield

BREAK 3:00–3:15pm (15 minutes)

Session Two - Moderator – Charles Burton, MD

3:15-3:30pm – Physician Sunshine Act – Impact on Academic Medical Centers
Terry Belmont, Chief Executive Officer, UC Irvine Medical Center

3:30 - 4:00pm - The Accountable Care Act
Erwin Chemerinsky, JD, Dean of the School of Law, University of California, Irvine

4:00-4:20pm – PODs Legal or "Inherently Suspect?"
Scott Lederhaus, MD, Association for Medical Ethics Board Member and President–Elect, Neurosurgeon, Inland Neurosurgery Institute

4:20-4:35pm – Panel discussion and Q&A session

4:45-4:55pm – Association for Medical Ethics Award for Outstanding Achievement in Journalism and Advancing Transparency in Medicine

4:55-5:00pm – Closing Comments
Charles Burton, MD, Association for Medical Ethics President

Information: For additional information or questions about the Symposium, email info@ethicaldoctor.org.

Additional panelists will also present updates on transparency in medicine and legal implications surrounding the Physician's Payment Sunshine Act.

Accredation Statement: UC Irvine School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Designation Statement: The University of California, Irvine School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 4 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.