A case against in-office sales of skin care products

The central argument against in-office sales of skin care products involves conflict of interest (COI). 1 The AMA Code of Medical Ethics' opinions on the sale and dispensing of health-related products. Virtual Mentor. 2010; 12: 925-927 PubMed Google Scholar , 2 Sidorsky T. The price is right: office dispensing and product pricing. in: Bercovitch L. Perlis C. Dermatoethics: Contemporary Ethics and Professionalism in Dermatology. Springer, London2012: 137-142 Crossref Scopus (2) Google Scholar The Institute of Medicine defines COI as circumstances conferring risk that professional judgment regarding a primary interest is unduly influenced by secondary interests. 3 Institute of MedicineConflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC2009 Google Scholar The primary interest of medicine is patient welfare. For in-office sales of skin care products, the secondary interest is financial gain of dermatologists. COI undermines public trust in the judgment of medical professionals and threatens fundamental tenets of professionalism like putting patient welfare above other concerns. 1 The AMA Code of Medical Ethics' opinions on the sale and dispensing of health-related products. Virtual Mentor. 2010; 12: 925-927 PubMed Google Scholar , 3 Institute of MedicineConflict of Interest in Medical Research, Education, and Practice. The National Academies Press, Washington, DC2009 Google Scholar