Questions have been raised concerning participation by Fellows
in commercial advertising or promotional activities for products
or services under circumstances in which it is not readily apparent
that the Fellow is receiving remuneration for such activity,
with consequent possibility of bias.
Article VII, Section 1(i), of the College Bylaws provides
that Fellows may be disciplined for "Participating in communications
to the public which convey false, untrue, deceptive, or misleading
information through statements, testimonials, photographs, graphics,
or other means, or which omit material information without which
the communication would be deceptive."
In situations in which a Fellow's failure to disclose his
or her financial interest in or arrangement with a commercial
enterprise makes it likely that other professionals or the public
will be unable to evaluate accurately statements made about the
products or services, the statements may be misleading or deceptive.
Under such circumstances, failure to disclose remuneration or
financial interest may constitute grounds for disciplinary action
under Article VII, Section 1(i) of the College Bylaws.
Reprinted from Bulletin of the American College
of Surgeons
Vol. 74, No. 6, Page 55, January 1989