Conflict of Interest Policy

The American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). This accreditation is important for our organization and members. To achieve and maintain this accreditation, the ASLMS implemented a process for meeting the ACCME's Criteria for providing continuing medical education at the highest standard.

As part of this process, every person who is in a position to control the content of an ASLMS-sponsored education activity must disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interests. If such a financial relationship presents a conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest, the conflict will need to be resolved prior to continued involvement. If you decline to disclose relevant financial relationships, you will be disqualified from being a part of the planning and implementation of the CME activity.

ASLMS Disclosure of Interest Guidelines
To comply with ACCME Standards as well as with FDA regulations, the ASLMS requires:

• Written and verbal disclosure of financial interests or benefits you and you spouse/partner received within the last 12 months, and that no presentations are made with the appearance of a conflict of interest. If any conflict develops from the time you submit this disclosure form to the time of the CME activity, you must notify the ASLMS in writing and disclose the conflict.

• Written and verbal disclosure of any off-label uses of drugs or devises.

FDA approval is specific regarding approved uses and labeling of drugs and devises. The presenter must disclose whether or not the device or treatment is approved by the FDA or whether it is considered to be investigational. The presenter must also fully disclose any off-label use of devices, drugs, or other materials that constitute the subject of the presentation.

The ASLMS Central Office will prepare a conflict of interest statement to be included in printed program materials and a conflict of interest slide based on the information provided in this disclosure form. The slide will be inserted before each presentation on the Central Server and will include any proprietary interest in any drugs, instruments, or devices discussed in the presentation and/or any compensation received. Similarly, a slide will be shown to disclose the fact that the presentation content includes off-label uses of drugs or devices.