A new ethics policy to guide student and faculty relationships with drug companies at the University of Minnesota's Medical School has drawn praise from a national students' group. The American Medical Student Association gave the U's new policy a B in a report earlier this month. That was up from a D the last time the grades came out. AMSA's PharmFree Scorecard reviews 11 areas, including gifts, meals and training provided by drug companies, promotional speeches given by doctors on behalf of industry and interaction with sales representatives. "Obviously we were always displeased with the D," said Mark Paller, MD, executive vice dean of the U's Medical School. "But we're pleased with being within an acceptable range of an A."
