Gifts to Physicians From Industry: The Debate Evolves

In October 2009, the board of directors of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) approved a major revision to ACEP's “Gifts to Emergency Physicians from Industry” policy. The revised policy is a response to increasing debate and calls for restriction of the long-standing biomedical industry practice of giving promotional gifts to individual physicians. This article outlines the history of professional attention to gift giving and reviews recent contributions to the ongoing debate over its justifiability, including professional association recommendations for limitation or prohibition of the practice. The article concludes with a description of the provisions of the revised ACEP gifts policy and brief reflection on the future of this practice.