In accordance with ACCME regulations, the American College of Surgeons must ensure that anyone who is in a position to control the content of the education activity has disclosed all financial relationships with any commercial interests (termed by the ACCME as "ineligible companies" , definded below) in the last 24 months prior to their involvement of the educational activity
Ineligible Company: Defined by the ACCME as any entity producing, marketing, re-selling, or distributing health care goods or services used on or consumed by patients. Providers of clinical services directly to patients are NOT included in this definition.
Financial Relationships: Relationships in which the individual benefits by receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, ownership interest (e.g., stocks, stock options or other ownership interest, excluding diversified mutual funds), or other financial benefit. Financial benefits are usually associated with roles such as employment, management position, independent contractor (including contracted research), consulting, speaking and teaching, membership on advisory committees or review panels, board membership, and other activities from which remuneration is received, or expected. ACCME considers relationships of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationships of a spouse or partner.
Conflict of Interest: Circumstances create a conflict of interest when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME content about products or services of a commercial interest with which he/she has a financial relationship.
All CME Planners and Speakers /Moderators/Discussants/Authors/Editors involved in the development and/or presentation of CME content must complete this form. The form must be updated whenever circumstances require. In addition, all affirmative disclosures for speakers must be revealed by a slide at the beginning of the presentation.
Failure or refusal to disclose or the inability to manage the identified conflict will result in the withdrawal of the invitation to participate.