Penn Medicine to disclose doctors' drug ties

Beginning in spring 2009, the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and its health system, known collectively as Penn Medicine, plan to launch a Web site that will contain searchable information on all outside activities of its doctors and scientists. "When all of us are up there transparently, it may make us a little more responsible," said Arthur H. Rubenstein, dean of the medical school and head of Penn Medicine. Public disclosure of the ties between its medical staff and industry would include Penn in the emerging trend in response to growing concerns about medical conflicts of interest.