Steve Halasey

January 1, 2008

2 Min Read
The Truth

EDITOR'S PAGE

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There are a lot of clichés about the nature of truth, many of which are useful in certain narrowly constructed situations. But as definitions of truth or as explanations of the importance of this virtue, such statements never seem to be complete, satisfying, or, well, true.

This year, the medical device industry may get a first-hand lesson in the importance of truth—or at least the perception of it. Somewhat paradoxically, the lesson may be delivered at the hands of America's politicians, a group whose members are rarely seen as upholding the highest standards in this regard.

The lesson plan has been under preparation for several years. Its background includes the corporate accounting scandals of the early years of this decade as well as the recent U.S. Department of Justice investigations that have peered into medtech corporate ethics and the relationships among companies and their customers. It was also given momentum by the high-profile product recalls that have recently affected the pharmaceutical and medical device industries.

The effect of all these activities, and many others, has been to undermine the nation's confidence in nearly every segment of the healthcare sector. Fed up with the high cost of healthcare and the inability of the U.S. system to provide adequate coverage for all of the nations' citizens, the U.S. electorate has begun to weigh its options. And this year—a presidential election year in the United States—the electorate may well be in a mood to support greater government regulation as a solution to the perceived ills of the system.

In "2008 Medtech Public Policy Watch", leading industry organizations outline developing areas of public policy interest to device manufacturers. If the medtech industry fails to take its place at the discussion table for these key issues—and participate in a meaningful and truthful way—it may find itself in a position of having to comply with policies based on a version of the truth that seems, at best, subjective.

Copyright ©2008 MX

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