2 years ago, I was asked to represent the patient community at the Third International Conference on Ethical Issues in Biomedical Engineering.
(website) I have been invited to return and again, represent the patient community in a panel discussion on "Marketing, Payment and Regulation of Biomedical Devices" at the Fourth Internation Conference on Ethical Issues in Biomedical Engineering.
(website)
I'll be making a presentation and then participating in the panel discussion on marketing, reimbursement and regulation. I'd like my presentation to cover:
- A balanced view of positive and negative impact of new technologies on the spine patient community.
- Case examples of abuses by the system as related to introduction of new devices. (read more below)
Abuses by the system may include, but are not limited to:
- reimbursement issues
- reimbursement issues
- informed consent
- reimbursement issues
- Workmen's comp abuse
- reimbursement issues
- Clinical trial, oversight of unsuccessful patients
- Complication reporting - outcome database - can't we weed out the bad surgeons?
- Oh yes... did I say reimbursement issues.
I spoke to Dr. Subrata Saha this morning. This year well over a dozen countries will be represented and the conference is growing nicely. I really enjoyed the conference in 2005 and look forward to this one. Late April in New York should be nice... perhaps we can have a spiney gathering there... Sunday afternoon 4/22?