The following policy governs all Louisiana Academy of Family Physicians (LAFP) produced CME activities of all types, including live, performance improvement in practice, point of care, enduring materials, medical journals.

1. DISCLOSURE OF FINANCIAL RELATIONSHIPS

The existence of any financial relationship or interest an individual in a position to influence/control content currently has, or has had, within the previous 12 months, and 12 months into the foreseeable future, must be disclosed in writing to the LAFP must be disclosed in writing prior to confirmation of the individual's participation. Disclosure information must be received and reviewed by the LAFP prior to confirmation of the individual’s participation. Any conflicts of interest must be identified and resolved prior to the individual’s confirmation as an activity faculty or other content-influencing/controlling role.

The existence of any financial relationship or interest an individual in a position to control content currently has, or has had, within the previous 12 months, and 12 months into the foreseeable future, must be disclosed in writing to the AAFP prior to confirmation of the individual's participation. Any conflicts of interest must be identified and resolved prior to the individual's confirmation as an activity planner, faculty, author, or other content controlling role. It is necessary to update disclosure information should the status change during the course of the CME activity.

The intent of this policy is not to prevent individuals from participating, but rather is to identify and resolve any conflict of interest. Should resolution be impossible, a replacement for the individual must be chosen.

Because the review, identification, and resolution process must take place prior to the activity, all individuals in a position to influence/control content must return the disclosure information by the due date. Additional clarification is asked of those who participate in Speakers’ Bureaus to assist LAFP reviewers in understanding the nature of your Speakers’ Bureau relationship (a list of recommended speakers acting independently of any guidance or direction from a commercial entity versus a list of speakers who are acting as agents, or who are contractually bound as agents of the commercial entity) in order to assure that your participation will not be in conflict with previous commitments.

The disclosure will be reviewed and, should a conflict be identified, additional information or dialogue may be required. Failure to disclose within the necessary timeframe will result in withdrawal of the invitation to participate.

Acknowledgement of all relevant disclosures as determined by the LAFP —i.e., nothing to disclose or existence of affiliation(s), and/or financial relationship(s) or interest(s)—for every individual who serves in a position to influence/control content of the educational activity must be presented in writing to the learners prior to presentation.

2. DISCLOSURE OF UNLABELED/INVESTIGATIONAL USES OF PRODUCTS

LAFP believes that it is important for faculty and authors to clarify for learners when an unlabeled use of a commercial product, or an investigational use not yet approved for any purpose, is discussed during an educational activity. Faculty must disclose that the product is not labeled for the use under discussion or that the product is still investigational.

The intent of this policy is not to prohibit or limit the exchange of views in scientific and educational discussions, including discussions of unapproved uses, but to ensure that faculty discloses to learners that such discussion will take place.

For live activities, should an unplanned discussion of unlabeled or investigational uses of a product occur (usually in the course of a question and answer session), it is the responsibility of the faculty member to inform the learners that the use under question/discussion is unlabeled or investigational prior to answering the question or responding to the discussion point.

Acknowledgement of planned discussion of unapproved or investigational uses of products must be presented in writing to the learners prior to the start of the activity, or (for enduring materials) at the point that first mention is made of the unapproved/investigational use in the activity.

3. FAILURE OR REFUSAL TO DISCLOSE/FALSE DISCLOSURE

Failure or refusal to disclose, false disclosure, or inability to work with the LAFP to resolve an identified conflict of interest will result in withdrawal of the invitation to participate and replacement of the faculty.

4. IDENTIFICATION AND RESOLUTION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

A. The LAFP will inform all individuals who are invited to serve in roles that can control the content of an educational activity (faculty, planners, authors, editors, reviewers, staff, etc.) of the LAFP Policy on Full Disclosure. Disclosure forms and due dates will be distributed with the invitation to serve. Confirmation of service is contingent upon return and review of disclosure information by the date requested, and review of disclosure information and resolution of any conflicts of interest.